Taxonomic revision of the family Punicaceae

The issues of the taxonomy of the olygotypic family Punicaceae Bercht. et J. Presl are concerned. The study of the family in 2005–2017 indicates that the differences between two species Punica granatum L. and P. protopunica Balf. f. are insufficient to treat P. protopunica, an endemic of the Socotra Island, as a separate genus. The range of the variability of morphological features and caryological data suggest advisability to preserve the both species in the genus Punica L. The family Punicaceae, in its turn, is often considered as the subfamily Punicoideae Luerss. within the family Lythraceae J. St.-Hil. The necessity to preserve Punicaceae in the range of family is determined by its distinction in the combination of several important morphological features (such as structure of fruits, seeds, position of the cotyledons, etc.) from the members of relative families.