Chap. CXIIII. Malus Punica siue Granata. The Pomegranet tree.
There are two kindes of Pomegranet trees, The one tame or manured, bearing fruit, which is distinguished of some into two sorts, of others into three, that is, into sower, and sweet, and into sower sweete. The other wilde, which beareth no fruite, because it beareth double flowers, like as the Cherry, Apple, and Peach tree with double blossomes, before described, and is also distinguished into two sorts, the one bearing larger, the other lesser flowers. Of the manured kinde wee haue onely one sort (so farre as we know, for it neuer beareth ripe fruit in this our Countrey) which for the beautifull aspect, both of the greene verdure of the leaues, and faire proportion and colour of the flowers, as also for the raritie, are noursed in some few of their gardens that delight in such rarities: for in regard of the tendernesse, there is neede of diligent care, that is, to plant it against a brick wall, and defend it conueniently from the sharpenesse of our winters, to giue his Master some pleasure in seeing it beare flowers: And of the double kinde we haue as yet obtained but one sort, although I shall giue you the knowledge and description of another.
| 1 | Myrtus latifolia maior. The broad leaded Myrtle. |
| 2 | Myrtus angustifolia minor. The small leafed Myrtle. |
| 3 | Myrtus buxifolia minor. The Boxe leafed Myrtle. |
| 4 | Malus Granatus simplici flore. The ordinary Pomegranet tree. |
| 5 | Balaustium Romanum seu minus. The lesser double flowred Pomegranet tree. |
| 6 | Balaustium maius siue Cyprium. The greater double flowred Pomegranet. |
| 7 | Pseudocapsicum seu Amomum Plinij. The Winter Cherry tree. |
| 8 | Ficus Indica cum suo fructu. The Indian Figgetree and his fruit. |
1. Malus Punica satiua. The tame Pomegranet tree.
This Pomegranet tree groweth not very high in his naturall places, and with vs somtimes it shooteth forth from the roote many brownish twigges or branches, or if it bee pruned from them, and suffered to grow vp, it riseth to bee seuen or eight foote high, spreading into many small and slender branches, here and there set with thornes, and with many very faire greene shining leaues, like in forme and bignesse vnto the leaues of the larger Myrtle before described, euery one hauing a small reddish foote-stalke vpon these branches: among the leaues come forth here and there, long, hard, and hollow reddish cups, diuided at the brimmes, wherein doe stand large single flowers, euery one consisting of one whole leafe, smaller at the bottome then at the brimme, like bels, diuided as it were at the edges into fiue or six parts, of an orient red or crimson colour in the hotter Countries; but in this it is much more delayed, and tendeth neare vnto a blush, with diuers threads in the middle. The fruit is great and round, hauing as it were a crowne on the head of it, with a thicke tough hard skinne or rinde, of a brownish red colour on the outside, and yellow within, stuffed or packt full of small graines, euery one encompast with a thin skin, wherein is contained a clear red iuyce or liquor, either of a sweet (as said before) or sower taste, or betweene them both of a winie taste: the roote disperseth it selfe very much vnder ground.
2. Balaustium maius siue Malus Punica siluestris maior. The greater wilde or double blossomd Pomegranet tree.
The wilde Pomegranet is like vnto the tame in the number of purplish branches, hauing thornes, and shining faire greene leaues, somewhat larger then the former: from the branches likewise shoote forth flowers, farre more beautifull then those of the same or manured sort, because they are double, and as large as a double Prouince Rose, or rather more double, of an excellent bright crimson colour, tending to a silken carnation, standing in brownish cups or huskes, diuided at the brims vsually into foure or fiue seuerall points, like vnto the former, but that in this kinde there neuer followeth any fruit, no not in the Country, where it is naturally wilde.
3. Balaustium minus. The smaller wilde Pomegranet tree.
This smaller kinde differeth from the former in his leaues, being of a darker greene colour, but not in the height of the stemme, or purplishnesse of his branches, or thorns vpon them; for this doth shew it selfe more like vnto a wilde kind then it: the flowers hereof are much smaller, and not so thicke and double, of a deeper or sadder red Orenge tawny colour, set also in such like cups or huskes.
The Place.
The tame or manured kinde groweth plentifully in Spaine, Portugall, and Italy, and other in other warme and hot countries. Wee (as I said before) preserue it with great care. The wilde I thinke was neuer seene in England, before Iohn Tradescante my very louing good friend brought it from the parts beyond the Seas, and planted it in his Lords Garden at Canterbury.
The Time.
They flower very late with vs, that is, not vntill the middle or end of August, and the cold euenings or frosts comming so soone vpon it, doth not onely hinder it from bearing, but many times the sharpe winters so pinch it, that it withereth it downe to the ground, so that oftentimes it hardly springeth againe.
The Names.
The name Malus Punica for the tree, and Malum Punicum for the fruit, or Malus Granata, and Malum Granatum, is the common name giuen vnto this tree, which is called in English the Pomegarnet or Pomegranet tree. The flowers of the tame kinde are called Cytini, as Dioscorides saith, although Plinie seemeth either to make Cytinus to be the flower of the wilde kinde, or Balaustium to be the flower of both tame and wilde kinde: but properly, as I take it, Cytinus is the cup wherein the flower as well of the tame as wilde kinde doth stand; for vnto the similitude of them, both the flowers of Asarum, and the seede vessels of Hyosciamus are compared and resembled, and not vnto the whole flower: the barke or rinde of the fruit is called of diuers Sidion, and in the Apothecaries shops Psidium, and cortex Granatorum. The wilde kinde is called Malus Punica siluestris: In English, The wilde Pomegranet tree; the flower thereof is properly called Balaustium. The lesser kind is vsually called Balaustium Romanum, as the greater is called Creticum and Cyprium, because they growe in Candy and Cyprus.
The Vertues.
The vse of all these Pomegranets is very much in Physicke, to coole and binde all fluxibility both of body and humours: they are also of singular effect in all vlcers of the mouth, and other parts of the body, both of man and woman. There is no part of them but is applyed for some of these respects. The rinde also of the Pomegranet is vsed of diuers in stead of Gaules, to make the best sort of writing Inke, which is durable to the worlds end.