watermelon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• watermelon
• watermelon
• Afghan-melon
• bastard-melon
• dessert watermelon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anguria citrullus
• Cucumis citrullus
• Citrullus lanatus var. vulgaris
• Citrullus battich var. lanatus
• Citrullus mucosospermus var. senegalicus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. pasteca
• Citrullus vulgaris var. jacaeus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. maximus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. ellipsoideus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. rimosus
• Cucurbita anguria
• Cucurbita citrullus
• Cucurbita afra
• Cucurbita gigantea
• Cucurbita pinnatifida
• Cucumis laciniosus
• Momordica lanata
• Citrullus afrorum
• Citrullus aquosus
• Citrullus edulis
• Citrullus lanatus f. nigroseminius
• Citrullus vulgaris
• Citrullus vulgaris var. afrorum
• Cucumis amarissimus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. depressus
• Cucumis dissectus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. erythrospermus
• Citrullus vulgaris var. naudinii
• Citrullus chodospermus
• Cucumis vulgaris
• Citrullus lanatus var. albidus
• Citrullus lanatus var. afrorum
• Citrullus lanatus var. minor
• Citrullus vulgaris var. lanatus
• Citrullus lanatus var. oblongus
• Citrullus lanatus var. pulcherrimus
• Citrullus lanatus var. pumilus
• Citrullus lanatus var. rotundus
• Citrullus lanatus var. shami
• Citrullus lanatus var. variegatus
• Citrullus lanatus var. virgatus
• Citrullus lanatus var. viridis
• Citrullus lanatus subsp. vulgaris
• Citrullus anguria
• Citrullus battich
• Citrullus pasteca
• Colocynthis amarissima
• Colocynthis citrullus
• Cucumis citrullus var. jace
• Cucumis citrullus var. pasteca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Cucurbitalees, specifically within the family Cucurbitaeaceace. Finally, it is identified under the genus Citrullus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Citrullus lanatus, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several Northern European territories. Its presence is documented within the borders of Denmark. Furthermore, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Finland. The species also extends its range into the coastal and inland regions of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical reach includes the northern territories of Norway and Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Citrullus lanatus is characterized by its presence within the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where it thrives in humid, high-rainfall environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 450 m AMSL, adapting to the diverse microclimates provided by the dense, moisture-rich tropical forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Citrullus lanatus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable environmental conditions by persisting as a seed, allowing the plant to rapidly colonize available spaces once conditions become favorable. This therophytic nature, consistent across both its life form classifications, ensures that the plant maintains a transient but highly efficient existence, focusing its energy on rapid vegetative expansion and prolific seed dispersal before the onset of seasonal changes.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Citrullus lanatus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant functions as an obligatory vine with a prostrate shoot orientation, typically exhibiting a sprawling or rambling habit across the ground. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it exists as an independent species rather than a parasite. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in size; while it often maintains a relatively low profile with a mean height of approximately 0.5 m, individual specimens can range from a minimum height of 0.2 m to a maximum height of up to 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Citrullus lanatus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation and energy production. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 3 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 13 cm. In terms of specialized metabolic adaptations, the species is non-succulent and does not possess carnivorous mechanisms for nutrient acquisition. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen through its root system rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

13 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Citrullus lanatus is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, which facilitates genetic exchange. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, depending on environmental variables. Pollination is primarily a biotic process driven by insects, ensuring the successful fertilization of the plant, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a large, indehiscent berry fruit, with an average length of approximately 40 cm. This fruit contains a high volume of seeds, often exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.0803 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.042 g to a maximum of 0.16 g. Seed dispersal is achieved through zoochorous mechanisms, involving animals, as well as anthropochorous means, where human activity plays a significant role in the distribution of the species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length mean:

40 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.16 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0803465276666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.042 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Citrullus lanatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root.

Seed

1. Natural product communications
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Citrullus lanatus has 168 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cucurbitacin B, Cucurbitacin E, GLUTAMIC ACID, RUTIN, STIGMASTEROL.

Cucurbitacin B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cucurbitacin E

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

STIGMASTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

cysteine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of biological chemistry

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of oleo science

oleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of oleo science

serine

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of biological chemistry

Activities

Citrullus lanatus has 531 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antihypertensive, Antispasmodic.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. JBRA assisted reproduction
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. JBRA assisted reproduction
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. JBRA assisted reproduction

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Emetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Laxative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Toxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Citrullus lanatus has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Diabetes mellitus, STI, abiotic stress, asthma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations