Citrullus lanatus

An annual plant reaching 0.5 m tall by 2 m wide. Hardy to UK zone 9 and frost tender. Flowers from July to August. Monoecious with insect pollination and self-fertile. Grows in light sandy and medium loamy soils, preferring well-drained conditions. Suitable for mildly acid, neutral, and basic soils. Requires full sun and tolerates both dry and moist conditions with good drought tolerance. Fruit varies considerably by cultivar, reaching up to 1 meter long and 40 cm wide.

Description

An annual climber with deeply divided leaves and tendrils along the vine. It trails over the ground and has hairy, angular stems. The leaves are on long leaf stalks. The leaves are deeply divided along their length. These lobe are rounded and can themselves be divided. The leaves are 5-20 cm long by 2-12 cm across. The tendrils are divided. The plant has separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The flowers are pale yellow and smaller than pumpkins. The flowers occur in the axils of leaves. The male flowers appear first. Fruit are large and round or oval. They can be 60 cm long. Fruit have a hard smooth skin. Several fruit colours and shapes occur. Often they have a dark green mottle. The fruit has reddish juicy flesh and black or red seeds. The seeds are oval shaped and smooth. The seed size and shape vary considerably.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten raw and is prized for its refreshing, delicately sweet flavour and extremely high water content — it is often consumed as a drink in itself. Unripe fruits can be added to soups, and a syrup can be made from the juice. The fruit is a rich source of pectin, useful for adding to low-pectin fruits when making jam; pectin is said to protect the body against radiation. Fruit size varies greatly by cultivar but can reach up to 1 metre long and 40cm wide. Leaves can be eaten cooked. Seeds are edible raw or cooked — roasted whole, or ground into a powder and mixed with cereal flours for breads and cakes, or added to soups and stews. The seed contains about 30% protein and 20–40% oil, from which an edible oil is extracted. Nutritional values per 100g (dry weight, 344 calories): Water 0%, Protein 7.8g, Fat 1.6g, Carbohydrate 85.9g, Fibre 6.3g, Ash 4.7g; Calcium 125mg, Phosphorus 141mg, Iron 4.7mg, Potassium 1351mg; Vitamin A 4300mg, Thiamine (B1) 0.5mg, Riboflavin (B2) 0.6mg.

Traditional Uses

The fruit is eaten raw when ripe. Small unripe fruit can be cooked as a vegetable. Seeds are also eaten. They are dried, soaked in salt water then roasted. Oil is extracted from the seeds. The seeds are ground and made into bread. Occasionally very young leaves are eaten. The skin is sometimes candied in vinegar then eaten with fish. The syrup from the fruit can be used in jams and cakes.

Medicinal Uses

The seed is demulcent, diuretic, pectoral and tonic, and is used to treat conditions of the urinary passages and bed wetting. It is also an effective vermifuge: a fatty oil in the seed, as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts, paralyze tapeworms and roundworms. The seed also has a hypotensive action. The fully ripe fruit — or even fruit that is almost putrid — is used as a febrifuge, and is also diuretic, being effective in treating dropsy and renal stones. The fruit contains lycopine (also found in tomato skins), which has been shown to protect against heart attacks and is more effective when cooked. The fruit rind is prescribed for alcoholic poisoning and diabetes. The root is purgative and in large doses is said to be a certain emetic.

Known Hazards

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.

Distribution

A tropical plant. They grow best on the coast in the tropics but will grow up to about 1,700 m altitude. They will not stand water-logging and do well on sandy soils. Plants are frost sensitive. Seed will not germinate below 21°C. Temperatures between 24-30°C are suitable. It can grow in arid places. Fruit are sweeter in arid warm areas. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Amazon, Angola, Argentina, Aruba, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Bougainville, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabinda, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial-Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Russia, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. They are suitable mainly for the dry season. A spacing of 1.5 to 2 m is suitable. They grow easily from seed. They do best when fully exposed to the sun. Seed can be dried and stored. If too much vegetative growth occurs picking out the tip to produce side branches with more fruit.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in rich compost in a greenhouse. Either put 2–3 seeds per pot and thin to the strongest plant, or prick out seedlings into individual pots of rich soil as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on quickly and, if planting outside, do so after the last expected frosts. Provide protection such as a cloche or frame at least until the plants are growing away vigorously.

Other Uses

The seed contains 20–40% oil, which is used both as an edible oil and for making soap and for lighting. Face masks made from the fruit are used as a cosmetic on delicate skin.

Production

Plants grow quickly. Harvesting commences after 4-5 months. The main fruit season is November to January. The ripeness can be picked by tapping the fruit to get a dull sound, the part of the fruit on the ground changes from green to light yellow and the tendril near the base of the fruit becomes dry. Fruit yield can be 45-60 tons per hectare. There can be 4-6 fruit on each plant.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The seeds are a popular food in China. Common and popular in lowland areas of Papua New Guinea.

Notes

There are 3 Citrullus species. The fruit are mostly water with little food value or taste. Some kinds are being selected for seeds for oil. The seed oil is nutritious.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Agushi, Anowotere, Atsetsea, Bara, Battikh, Beteka, Bittekh, Blass, Bostan, Bvani, Chimwamaji, Chimwela, Cimango, Dagita, Deri, Dole dodosine, Dua hau, Egusi, Goussi-gaga, Guna, Habu, Ibece, Ibotolo, Ihele, Intshabotyi, Itikitiki, Kalambojo, Kamandiki, Kankana, Karaa, Kemikaii, Kgengwe, Khakha, Komadu, Labu ayer, Lehapu, Lerotse, Litichiti, Majoda, Makakabane, Makatendry, Mak po, Matao, Mbika ntetu, Melancia, Meleni, Melon de agua, Mendikai, Mereni, Mubvembe, muShamba, Munwiwa, Mutshatsha, muVise, Narracuene, Nendikai, Ogili, Oru, 'Owllok, Pakwan, Patilla, Peni-komadu, Pitcha, Raiapisa, Rayapisa, Samangka, Sandia, Sandiya, Sania, Semongka, Sihka, Tarabuja, Tarbuj, Tarbuz, Tarmuj, Te meren, Tembikai, Temikai, Thaisim hagong, Thoomo, Tinacanti, Tjoto, Voasavy, Vwende, Watesan, Watre, Wedamelon, Werewere

References (142)

• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 127 (As Citrullus vulgaris)
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 206
• Arnold, T.H., Wells, M.J. & Wehmeyer, A.S., Khoisan food plants: taxa with potential for future economic exploitation, in Wickens, G.E., Goodin, J.R., and Field, D.V.,(Eds.) 1985, Plants for Arid Lands. Unwin Hyman, London, p 73

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