Garnet

Pomegranate, pomegranate tree - Punika granatum - Pomegranate belongs to the family - "Punikatseya", which consists of only one genus, represented only 2 species, grows naturally in Iran and the Caucasus, but widespread as a cultivated fruit tree in tropical and subtropical countries . Punika generic name is derived from the Latin "punikus - Punic, Carthaginian, and indicates the prevalence of this plant in ancient Carthage (the territory of modern Tunisia), species identification of" granatum "- granular - due to the abundance of seeds in fruit.

Garnet - a small tree with dark green leathery leaves are oblong-lanceolate and beautiful large bright red flowers. This is one of the most popular fruit plants southern regions of our country. Weight major cultural pomegranate fruit is up to 400 grams, they are round in shape, with red, dark pink and light pink skin. The interior of the fruit is filled with numerous seeds surrounded by juicy cover that looks very similar to the fruits of bramble. Maturing in autumn, garnet is well maintained for several months, easy transportation. The largest garnet growths are found in eastern Transcaucasia: Lenkoran-Astara array of shrubs in Azerbaijan held once a few hundred hectares of crop and fruit of more than 1,5 thousand tons per year.

With plentiful and prolonged flowering, bright green leaves of the pomegranate is used in ornamental horticulture. By weight of the edible part of pomegranate - its juice - accounts for 35 - 60 percent of the whole fruit on the rind - 25-50 per cent and the seeds from 7 to 22 percent. Chemical composition of juice for 80-90 percent of water, 8-20 per cent - invert sugar, 10.04 percent - glucose and about 1 percent - acid, vitamin C, sulfates, chlorides and other salts, potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphate, manganese and magnesium. Oil is extracted from the seeds, grind them into meal feed.

Pomegranate rind is rich in tannins and pigments and can be used with medicine to treat intestinal disorders, against tape worms. Fruit juice increases resistance to infectious diseases, has a bracing effect. Astringent, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory effect of tannins rind is used in cosmetics for oily face and scalp, and dermatoses, burns, head broth rinse after shampooing for better hair growth. Fruit juice contains up to 10 per cent of citric acid and can be used for whitening a person, the juice of sour cream - an excellent whitening agent and nutrient for the skin.

18.02.2010. 06:38