M.G. Gilbert & M. Thulin (1993) Punicacae 1: 198-199
Plants trees or shrubs. Leaves more or less opposite, stipules rudimentary, blades simple. Inflorescences terminal, of solitary flowers or flower clusters. Flowers with hypanthia, bisexual, 5-8-merous; petals crumpled in bud; stamens numerous; ovaries inferior, many-celled, with numerous ovules. Fruits with leathery walls and persistent calyces; seeds with pulpy outer layer.
Punica has two species, Punica granatum, which probably native to to Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan but it wildly cultivated in temperate and subtropical areas, and Punica protopunica, which is endemic to Socotra.