This taxonomy originated with the erroneous synonymization of the wooly melon Citrullus lanatus with the sweet watermelon Citrullus vulgaris by L.H. Bailey in 1930. (wikipedia.org)
originated with the erroneous synonymization of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb. (loading.io)
It was reassigned to the genus Citrullus in 1836, under the replacement name Citrullus vulgaris, by the German botanist Heinrich Adolf Schrader. (wikipedia.org)
Molecular data, including sequences from the original collection of Thunberg and other relevant type material, show that the sweet watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. (wikipedia.org)
Prior to 2015, the wild species closest to Citrullus lanatus was assumed to be the tendril-less melon Citrullus ecirrhosus Cogn. (wikipedia.org)
However, after phylogenetic analysis, the closest relative to Citrullus lanatus is now thought to be Citrullus mucosospermus (Fursa) from West Africa (from Senegal to Nigeria), which is also sometimes considered a subspecies within C. lanatus. (wikipedia.org)
Citrullus lanatus is a plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, a vine-like (scrambler and trailer) flowering plant originating in West Africa. (loading.io)
The subdivision of this species into two varieties, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb. (loading.io)
Since 1930, thousands of papers have misapplied the name Citrullus lanatus (Thunb. (loading.io)
Evidence of the cultivation of both C. lanatus and C. colocynthis in the Nile Valley has been found from the second millennium BC onward, and seeds of both species have been found at Twelfth Dynasty sites and in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. (friendsinspire.com)
In 2017, China produced about two-thirds of the world's total of watermelons. (wikipedia.org)
In the 7th century, watermelons were being cultivated in India, and by the 10th century had reached China, which is today the world's single largest watermelon producer. (friendsinspire.com)
The species was long thought to have originated in southern Africa, but this was based on the erroneous synonymization by L. H. Bailey (1930) of a South African species with the cultivated watermelon. (loading.io)
Edible fruit2
Watermelon is grown in favorable climates from tropical to temperate regions worldwide for its large edible fruit, which is a berry with a hard rind and no internal divisions, and is botanically called a pepo. (wikipedia.org)
Watermelon is grown in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide for its large edible fruit, also known as a watermelon, which is a special kind of berry with a hard rind and no internal division, botanically called a pepo. (loading.io)
Africa4
In 2022, a study was released that traced 6,000 year old watermelon seeds found in the Libyan desert to the Egusi seeds of Nigeria, West Africa. (wikipedia.org)
Watermelons were domesticated in north-east Africa, and cultivated in Egypt by 2000 BC, although they were not the sweet modern variety. (wikipedia.org)
The watermelon is a flowering plant that originated in northeast Africa, where it is found growing wild. (friendsinspire.com)
European colonists and slaves from Africa introduced the watermelon to the New World. (friendsinspire.com)
Dessert1
Sweet dessert watermelons spread across the Mediterranean world during Roman times. (wikipedia.org)
Seeds2
Wild watermelon seeds were found in Uan Muhuggiag, a prehistoric site in Libya that dates to approximately 3500 BC. (wikipedia.org)
There is evidence from seeds in Pharaoh tombs of watermelon cultivation in Ancient Egypt. (loading.io)
Watermelon is thought to aid conditions including asthma, cancer, and inflammation. (friendsinspire.com)
Male and fe2
Each flower grows singly in the leaf axils, and the species' sexual system, with male and female flowers produced on each plant, is (monoecious). (wikipedia.org)
Male and Female watermelon, female are more sugary and sweet, male watermelon more watery. (friendsinspire.com)
Wikipedia1
adopted from wikipedia, " watermelon ", available under CC BY-SA License . (loading.io)
Plant1
Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like watermelon decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality, diabetes, and heart disease. (friendsinspire.com)
Watermelon is a fruit, and has many of the associated benefits including weight loss and energy levels. (friendsinspire.com)
Evidence1
The watermelon has been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence stretching back to the Ancient Egyptians - who were expert cultivars. (friendsinspire.com)
Melon1
The meat of the melon is more whitish and dense, though, and much stronger in flavor, akin more to the area on a domesticated watermelon where the red meat is just turning into the white rind. (wikipedia.org)
Wild1
It has become an invasive species, growing wild, in western Mexico. (wikipedia.org)