Practical
Plants

Citrullus lanatus

Watermelon · Water Melon

a fruit vine or creeper of the Citrullus genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Flower colours
yellow, green
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo[19].

Edible uses

The seed contains about 30% protein, 20 - 40% oil[24]. A full nutritional analysis is available[23].

Plant part
Fruit
Preparation
Raw
Product or use
Fruit
Plant part
Fruit
Preparation
Juiced
Product or use
Drink, Syrup
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Pectin
Plant part
Fruit
Preparation
Cooked, raw, roasted
Product or use
Vegetable
Plant part
Leaves
Preparation
Cooked
Product or use
Greens, Leaf vegetable

The leaves can be eaten cooked as a leaf vegetable.

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed
Preparation
Raw, Cooked
Plant part
Seed
Preparation
Dried
Product or use
Flour

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is demulcent, diuretic, pectoral and tonic[15][10]. It is sometimes used in the treatment of the urinary passages[15] and has been used to treat bed wetting[14]. The seed is also a good vermifuge[15] and has a hypotensive action[20]. A fatty oil in the seed, as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts, paralyze tapeworms and roundworms[12]. The fruit, eaten when fully ripe or even when almost putrid, is used as a febrifuge[15] The fruit is also diuretic, being effective in the treatment of dropsy and renal stones[20]. The fruit contains the substance lycopine (which is also found in the skins of tomatoes). This substance has been shown to protect the body from heart attacks and, in the case of the tomato at least, is more effective when it is cooked[13]. The rind of the fruit is prescribed in cases of alcoholic poisoning and diabetes[10]. The root is purgative and in large dose is said to be a certain emetic[15].

Product or use
Cardiac
Product or use
Demulcent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Enuresis
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed contains 20 - 40% oil. As well as being edible, it is also used for making soap and for lighting[3]. Face masks made from the fruit are used as a cosmetic on delicate skins[20].

Product or use
Oil

Environment

Range
Tropical and S. Africa.
Habitat
A weed of roadsides and open ground in desert areas[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
False
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a rich compost in a greenhouse. Either put 2-3 seeds in each pot and thin to the best plant, or prick out the seedlings into individual pots of rich soil as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow them on fast and, if trying them outside, plant out after the last expected frosts. Give them some protection, such as a cloche or a frame, at least until they are growing away vigorously.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a rich sandy loam and a very sunny position[1][3][8]. A drought resistant plant once established, it is intolerant of wet soils[3]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.3 to 8. The water melon is frequently grown for its edible fruit in warm temperate and tropical areas, there are many named varieties[5]. It is not frost hardy and requires a long hot summer if it is to fruit well. It is not really a suitable crop for growing outdoors in Britain at the present time, though it is possible that new faster maturing cultivars will be developed. It is best grown in greenhouse conditions in Britain[K]. The cultivars 'Fordbrook hybrid', New Hampshire midget' and 'Sugar baby' mature in 80 - 85 days in Long Island, New York[8]. A good companion plant for potatoes[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

  3. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. RHS Lily Group. Lilies and Related Plants.

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

  7. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  9. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

  10. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  11. Sholto-Douglas. J. Alternative Foods.

  12. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  13. Radio 4 AM - 1997-00-00

    ↩

  14. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  15. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

  17. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

  18. Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber 1948-00-00

  19. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Evans. R. L. Handbook of Cultivated Sedums. Science Reviews 1983-00-00

  22. Organ. J. Gourds. Faber 1963-00-00

  23. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (32202/01/01)

    ↩

  24. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)

    ↩

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