Punica granatum

7.5

A small tree or shrub that produces large red fruit with many edible seeds

noun
/ˈpjuːnɪkə ɡrəˈnætəm/

Specialized

: Punica granatum

The pomegranate, known scientifically as Punica granatum, is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.

Examples

Many gardens feature Punica granatum for both its ornamental flowers and edible fruit.
Botanists classify the pomegranate as Punica granatum in scientific literature.
The genus Punica granatum has long been cultivated for its tasty and nutritious seeds.
The Punica granatum is often grown in gardens for its beautiful flowers.
Did you know that Punica granatum can thrive in dry climates?
Many people enjoy the juicy seeds of Punica granatum as a healthy snack.
In traditional medicine, Punica granatum has been used for its potential health benefits.

Synonyms

pomegranate

vsPunica granatum

4 3.5

A small tree or bush that makes round red fruits with many seeds

is the scientific species name for the plant not the edible fruit

pomegranate tree

vsPunica granatum

1 3.7

A small tree that produces large red fruit with many seeds

is the formal scientific name for the same species

Surface Forms

Punica granatum singular

Punica granatums plural

Morphology

Punica + granatum

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than a compositional English phrase; the constituents are Latin morphemes (one a capitalized genus name, the other not a common English word) so a B1 learner who knows the listed parts would not be able to infer 'pomegranate' without botanical/Latin knowledge. Scientific names are lexicalized and language-specific, making the meaning unpredictable from the surface parts for typical learners.

Etymology

Punica granatum is a scientific name from old Latin words: Punica means 'from Carthage' and granatum means 'many seeds'. So the name points to the pomegranate, the red fruit full of seeds, and helps you remember what the plant is.