Genus Punica

Although previously placed in its own family of 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.

Species in the genus Punica of plants

Pomegranate - It has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times, and today, is widely cultivated throughout Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Egypt, China, Burma, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the drier parts of southeast Asia, the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe, and tropical Africa.

Pomegranate tree - Punica protopunica is considered to be the precursor to the pomegranate and is the only other species in the Punica genus. It differs from the pomegranate in having pink flowers and smaller, less sweet fruit. The fruit when ripe are yellow-green in color.