DESCRIPTION
Shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall, deciduous , more or less prickly, much branched . Straight trunk, with the cracked bark and branches opposite, patents ; young tetragonus and sometimes pendulous . The leaves, 1.5-7 by 0.8-2 cm , are among oblong lanceolate , opposite or subopposite -in small branches gathered in fascicles or subopuestos alternate , deciduous , subcoriaceous , polished by the beam , glabrous , yellowish green, attenuated short petiole with an obtuse apex , often rounded -for emarginate – exception with terminal gland (nectary) bit obvious. The flowers are 3-4 cm in diameter, solitary, rarely mullioned or ternate with pedicel up to 3 mm , growing to fruition. The calyx is 2-4 1.5-2 cm; is bell shaped, leathery , thick , persistent , garnet, glabrous , bright and soldiers, valvular prior to blooming, persistent in fruit and variable number of 5-8 triangular segments .
Its petals, 2-2.5 1-1.5 cm long, are oval , corrugated , deciduous , deep red color (sometimes light pink); can be double or more in crops. The androecium has long stamens, reddish filaments with yellow anthers. The gynoecium is inferior ovary, fully welded to hipanto , with the style filiform and capitate stigma. The fruit is balausta 5-12 cm , spherical, leathery , reddish or reddish-yellow crowned by the remains of the calyx segments , with 2 whorls loculi (rarely 3) , usually the bottom with 6 cores and top with 3, all separated by membranous yellowish endocarp (tastanas) . The seeds, ripe and fresh , with about 12-15 5-7 mm , with the surface layer of the seed coat (Exotesta ) which is a sarcotesta although some authors describe as an aryl consists of columnar cells fleshy , translucent , angular, prismatic , with a color ranging from white to red – granate , and it is sweet and edible. In contrast, the inner layer of the seed coat (endotesta) that in the absence of endosperm surrounds the embryo (oil and convoluted cotyledons) is sclerosus – crystalliferous, being its character of the Myrtales order. The dispersal of propagules is endozoochory type, as the “nuggets “of seed containing the embryo are indigestible and spread with feces, especially birds.
Habitat
Subspontaneous on embankments, ditches and hedges; indifferent soil; grows from sea level to 1100 m. Flowers from April to June.
Probably originating in the Iran- Turanian region has become naturalized in the Mediterranean area and introduced in South America, South Africa and Australia; cultivated in temperate and subtropical areas. Dispersed, mainly in the east and south of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Also in the Canary Islands.
Fruit
