watermelon

watermelon, plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Africa and introduced to America by Africans transported as slaves. Watermelons are now extensively cultivated in the United States and are popular also in S Russia. The fleshy, juicy fruit is eaten fresh, the rind is pickled, and in Asia the seeds are eaten (the dry wild watermelon was originally domesticated for its seeds). Seedless and thin-rinded cultivated varieties have been developed, and one white-fleshed variety, the citron melon, is used like citron in preserving. Watermelons are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Curcurbitaceae.

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watermelon

Succulent fruit of Citrullus lanatus (formerly C. vulgaris), in the gourd family, native to tropical Africa and cultivated on every continent except Antarctica. The vines spread across the ground with branched tendrils, deeply cut leaves, and light-yellow flowers. Each vine bears 2–15 large, reddish, white, or yellow, sweet, very juicy fruits with flat black seeds. Varieties differ in flesh color, shape, and rind thickness. The rind may be preserved as a pickle.

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watermelon

an African melon, Citrullus vulgaris, widely cultivated for its large edible fruit

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watermelon [′wȯd·ər‚mel·ən]

(botany)

Citrullus vulgaris.An annual trailing vine with light-yellow flowers and leaves having five to seven deep lobes; the edible, oblong or roundish fruit has a smooth, hard, green rind filled with sweet, tender, juicy, pink to red tissue containing many seeds.