Punica

Punica is a small genus of fruit-bearing deciduous shrubs or small trees. It belongs in the family Lythraceae.
Name.
The name of the genus "Punica" was given by Linnaeus in 1753 in "Species Plantarum" (Vol. 1, page 472). The type species is "Punica granatum" L.
"Punica" comes from the Latin name for the pomegranate, "malum punicum", meaning "Carthaginian apple" ("apple from Carthage").
Description.
The species in this genus are shrubs or small trees that could grow up to high. Leaves are opossite. Flowers and fruits are yellow to bright red.
Fruits are berries with a strong skin, like leather. Fruits have many seeds with and edible coats (called sacrotesta).
Species.
There are only two species accepted in the genus "Punica":
Although previously placed in its own family Punicaceae, recent phylogenetic studies have shown that "Punica" belongs in the family Lythraceae, and it is classified in that family by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.