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)
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)
The egusi watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ) is popular in West Africa for its oil and protein-rich seed, which is consumed in soups and stews. (ashs.org)
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)
Prior to 2015, the wild species closest to Citrullus lanatus was assumed to be the tendril-less melon Citrullus ecirrhosus Cogn. (wikipedia.org)
genetic studies do not support the subspecies classification and groups egusi types with cultivated watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus var. (ashs.org)
Egusi3
The present study reports the location of the eg locus responsible for the egusi seed trait in watermelon on LG 2 as well as M-QTL and E-QTL associated with SOP. (ashs.org)
NRC, 2006 ), it is often used in reference to egusi watermelon. (ashs.org)
The egusi watermelons are unique because they contain large, flat seeds that are enclosed in a fleshy pericarp. (ashs.org)
Seeds1
Wild watermelon seeds were found in Uan Muhuggiag, a prehistoric site in Libya that dates to approximately 3500 BC. (wikipedia.org)
Type1
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)