Citrullus vulgaris

Citrullus vulgaris, commonly known as the watermelon, is a flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is native to West Africa and is cultivated for its fruit worldwide. The fruit, also known as a watermelon, is a special kind of berry referred to by botanists as a pepo.

Description

The plant is a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) annual plant. The leaves are 60 to 200 millimeters long and 40 to 150 millimeters wide. The flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers occurring on the same plant. The fruit is smooth and has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center.

Cultivation

Citrullus vulgaris is grown for its large edible fruit, which is a berry with a hard rind and no internal divisions, or a pepo. The sweet, juicy flesh is usually deep red to pink, with many black seeds, although seedless varieties have been cultivated.

Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or pickled, and the rind is edible after cooking. In addition, the seeds can be roasted and eaten. Watermelon juice can be used to make wine. Watermelon is also used in traditional medicine in some cultures.

See also

• List of culinary fruits
• List of Cucurbitaceae genera

References

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