WATERMELONS (Citrullus), race or perennial plants of family Cucurbitaceae. 5.3 species in southern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Watermelon is edible (C. lanatus) widely distributed in Africa. Stem reaches a length of 4-5 m in shrub and short stature is short forms. Leaves large, twice pinnate. Flowers unisexual, sometimes bisexual (hermaphrodite), grayish-yellow. Usually male and bisexual flowers are produced on one plant, female - on the other, sometimes flowers of different sexes are on the same plant. Pollination cross (insects). Fruit - berry-like melon different shapes (round and elongated), color (monochrome or multicolored) and size (weight of 1 to 12 kg).