Punica Granatum

The pomegranate, a native of northern Africa and

western Asia. The fruit is valued in warm countries on account of

its delicious cooling and refreshing pulp. Numerous varieties are

grown, some being sweet and vinous, and others acid or of a

bitter, stringent taste; the color also varies from light to dark

red. The bark of the root abounds in a peculiar principle called

_punicin_. This bark appears to have been known to the ancients,

and used by them as a vermifuge, and is still used in Hindostan as

a specific against tapeworm. The rind of the fruit of the bitter

varieties contains a large amount of tannin, and is used for

tanning morocco leather. The flowers yield a red dye.