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Watermelon

How to identify Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

Watermelon, also known as Egusi melon, Bitter wooly melon

Watermelon is an annual plant with a sprawling, vine-like growth habit, which can extend considerably along the ground. It features large, lobed leaves and produces stout, fuzzy stems. The plant bears sizable fruits that are typically both spherical and oval in shape, ranging considerably in size. These fruits possess a hard rind and a juicy, sweet interior that is most commonly red or pink but can come in a variety of colors. Each fruit encases numerous seeds within its fleshy interior. These fruits, once mature, can weigh anywhere from 6 to 44 pounds (2.7 to 20 kilograms).

Lifespan

Lifespan: Annual

Plant Type

Plant Type: Vine, Herb

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Watermelon

1

Large, lobed leaves with hairy undersides, 3-5 primary lobes, toothed margins, 3-8 inches (7.6-20.3 cm) long.

2

Stout stems covered in long, white, woolly hairs, angular and grooved, with curly tendrils for climbing.

3

Spherical to oblong fruits with mottled green, thick rind, red or pink juicy interior, 6-44 pounds (2.7-20 kg).

4

Pale yellow, solitary flowers with 5-lobed calyx, 5-part corolla, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter.

5

Distinct rounded to oblong fruit shape, smooth or slightly hairy, seeds in red to pink flesh.

WatermelonWatermelonWatermelonWatermelonWatermelon

Detailed Traits of Watermelon

Leaf Features

The leaves of watermelon are large, heart or oval-shaped, and hairy, especially on the underside veins. They are palmately lobed with 3 to 5 primary lobes, sometimes with secondary lobes. The margins are toothed, and the leaves measure 3-8 inches (7.6-20.3 cm) long and 2-6 inches (5-15.2 cm) wide. The deeply lobed leaves are alternately arranged along the stem and are oblong-ovate in shape with a cordate base.

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Flower Features

The flowers of watermelon are pale yellow and solitary, developing at the leaf axils. Each flower features a 5-lobed calyx and a 5-part corolla. Male flowers are characterized by 3 stamens, while female flowers have an inferior ovary and a 3-lobed stigma. Both types of flowers measure around 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter. The blooms are crucial for identifying the species, appearing during the plant's flowering season.

Watermelon Flower imageWatermelon Flower image
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Stem Features

The stem of watermelon is herbaceous, often angular and grooved. It is densely covered with long, white, woolly hairs, giving it a distinctive hairy texture. The stems bear curly tendrils which aid in climbing and spreading. Typically round to angular in shape, these stems exhibit a branching pattern that supports the plant's sprawling growth. The surface texture, combined with the dense hair coverage, makes the stem of watermelon easily recognizable for identification purposes.

Watermelon Stem image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of watermelon is a large, fleshy pepo, with a typical weight range of a few pounds to upward of 20 pounds (9 kg). It exhibits a distinct rounded to oblong shape, with a mottled green, thicker rind displaying varying patterns from darker green stripes to uniformly colored surfaces. The rind may be smooth or slightly hairy. Inside, the succulent flesh comes in a vibrant red to pink or, less commonly, a yellowish hue, encasing numerous seeds. These seeds are either black, cream, or exhibit a mottled appearance and are elliptic in form, nestled within the juicy core.

Watermelon Fruit imageWatermelon Fruit image
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Key Facts About Watermelon

Attributes of Watermelon
Lifespan
Annual
Plant Type
Vine, Herb
Plant Height
50 cm
Spread
2 m
Leaf Color
Green
Flower Size
4 mm
Flower Color
Yellow
Fruit Color
Green
Black
Yellow
White
Stem Color
Green
Leaf type
Deciduous
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Scientific Classification of Watermelon

Family
Gourd
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Species
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
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Distribution Map of Watermelon

Watermelon is native to parts of North Africa and South Africa. It naturally grows in grasslands and on riversides. However, this popular fruit has also been introduced and cultivated widely in temperate regions across the world.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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