obmar
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pomegranate or buah delimaArthur McHugh
Buah Delima
In Malay: in English, pomegranate;
to the Romans, a sort of apple that
came from Carthage, malum Punicum. Here
on the table, a crowned globe, no odour,
russet, quite heavy: a distant cousin
or the potato or Spanish onion?
No, its upside down. On the branch, it grows
flowers, white or coral-red, pendulous
and abundant, below the leathery
round of the rind. Slice into it; now see
those innumerable, wedge-shaped seeds, each
with its ruby vesicle, squashed in such
juicy density. Sour-and-sweet the taste
of this many-chambered miracle. Best
eat it all, since one of these seeds (they say
in India) will bring longevity,
but who knows which? One pomegranate-seed
Persephone consumed among the dead,
sufficed to keep her from the living light;
the tree was known to star-crossed Juliet —
it grew close by her balcony; this fruit,
Mohammed thought, could purge the heart of hate;
a pomegranate-pair, in China, means
good fortune and fertility. Like skeins
of yam, the pomegranate fables wind
far back through myth and history: legend
and Holy Writ agree that Solomon
possessed such trees; many a Christian
Madonna is portrayed - enthroned, sublime -
holding this symbol of the life to come;
and, with the Pyramids not yet complete,
a poetess of Ancient Egypt wrote
“Sweet pomegranate wine is in my mouth...”
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obmar
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The Inquisitor
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I used to like pomegranates. Too many seeds for me now. Too much work for the end result.
Maybe I'm just getting old.
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obmar
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Dont bite the seeds.
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The Inquisitor
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You got that right, obmar.
The seeds are as bitter as all get out. Yuck.
I'm getting too used to processed everything. If I have to do more than tear back the plastic film surrounding my chosen meal, it becomes too much work.
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obmar
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I grew one in front of the house.
taller and taller it grew
yet no sign of flowering of fruiting yet.
wonder why.
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The Inquisitor
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Maybe you just don't have a green thumb, obmar.
Hey, whatever I plant dies before I can cover it with dirt.
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obmar
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it grew allright,
so technically, i am.
only it havent beared any fruits. 
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The Inquisitor
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Maybe you have an aquamarine thumb, not quite entirely green, but of good stock.
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obmar
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Maybe maroon thumb.
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The Inquisitor
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Well,
Keep trying, obmar.
You never know when that magic touch will have your trees sprouting fruit in abundance. And it'll probably happen when you least expect it.
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obmar
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A new craze hereDragon Fruit
Hylocereus undatus
a.k.a. Pitahaya, Strawberry Pear
Round, often red colored fruit with prominent scales. The thin rind encloses the large mass of sweetly flavored white or red pulp and small black seeds. Some varieties are pinkish or yellow.
more pictures
White and red-fleshed dragon fruit seeds now available!
Uses
The fruit is popular eaten chilled, out of hand. It is also used to flavor drinks and pastries. Unopened flowerbuds are cooked and eaten as vegetables.
Plant Cultivation
A vining, terrestrial or epiphytic cactus, with fleshy stems reaching from a few inches up to 20ft long (in mature plants). The plant may grow out of, and over the ground or climb onto trees using aerial roots. It grows best in dry, tropical or subtropical climates where annual rainfall ranges from 20-50" per year. In wet, tropical zones, plants may grow well but sometimes have problems setting fruit reliably. Will tolerate temperatures to 104F, and short periods of frost, but prolonged cold will damage or kill the plant. The plants aren't usually too picky as to soil type, but because of their epiphytic nature, it is recommended to grow them in soil that is supplemented with high amounts of organic material. The plant has been grown successfully in sandy soils. Shade is sometimes provided in hot climates. Flowers are ornate and beautiful, and many related species are propagated as ornamentals. They bloom only at night, and usually last just one night where pollination is necessary to set fruit. In full production, pitahaya plants can have up to 4-6 fruiting cycles per year.
Propagation: By seed, or by stem cuttings.
Origin and Distribution
The exact origin is unknown, but is likely from Southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica. It is cultivated around the world in tropical regions.
Related Species
Cactaceae Cereus repandus Peruvian Apple Cactus
Hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit, Pitahaya, Strawberry Pear
Opuntia ficus-indica Prickly Pear, Indian Fig
Pereskia grandiflora Rose Cactus
Selenicereus megalanthus Yellow Pitaya
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The Inquisitor
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apple cactus, very enticing plant
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obmar
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