Plants annual. Stem and branches robust, sulcate-angular, villous. Tendrils puberulent, 2-fid. Petiole 3-12 cm, densely pubescent; leaf blade white-green, triangulate-ovate, 8-20 × 5-15 cm, both surfaces hispid, 3-partite; segments lobulate, base cordate, sinus semicircular, apex acute or acuminate. Flowers solitary. Male flowers: pedicel 3-4 cm, villous; calyx tube densely villous; segments narrowly lanceolate, 2-3 mm; corolla pale yellow, 2.5-3 cm in diam.; segments ovate-oblong, 1-1.5 × 0.5-0.8 cm; stamens nearly free. Female flowers: calyx and corolla as in male flowers; ovary 5-8 mm, densely villous; stigmas 3, reniform. Fruit globose or oblong, smooth. Seeds numerous, color various, ovate, 1-1.5 × 0.5-0.8 cm. Fl. and fr. Apr-Oct.

Source: [
• 7
]. 

1. Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai, Cat. Sem. Spor. Hort. Bot. Univ. Imp. Tokyo 30 (1916). Momordica lanata Thunb., Prodr. Fl. Cap. 13 (1794). Holotipo: Sudáfrica, Thunberg 22762 (microficha BM! ex UPS). Ilustr.: Nee, Fl. Veracruz 74: 19, t. 3 (1993).

Por A.K. Monro.

Citrullus edulis Spach, C. vulgaris Schrad. ex Eckl. et Zeyh., Colocynthis citrullus (L.) Kuntze, Cucurbita citrullus L.

Bejucos anuales postrados. Tallos vellosos y estrigosos. Hojas 4.5-20 × 3-19 cm, anchamente ovadas, 3-5-lobadas, el lobo central más largo, 5-7-lobuladas, cartáceas; envés densamente largo velloso y estrigoso; haz ocasionalmente estrigoso con bases hasta 0.5 mm de diámetro, grandes, cónicas, hinchadas; base cordata; márgenes sinuado-denticulados; ápice apiculado; pecíolos 2-13.5 cm, pelosos. Zarcillos 2(-3)-fidos, pelosos, volviéndose glabros hacia el extremo distal. Flores estaminadas amarillas; probrácteas 8-20 × 3 mm, basales sobre el pedicelo, obovado-espatuladas, cuculadas, membranáceas; pedicelos 1.3-4 cm, pelosos; hipanto 2-3 mm, anchamente campanulado, largamente peloso y estrigoso, verde; lobos del cáliz 2-5 mm; corola 10-15 mm, campanulada, los lobos amarillos con nervaduras verdes, el ápice apiculado, la superficie externa pelosa. Flores pistiladas similares a las flores estaminadas; pedicelos 0.2-3.5 cm; cáliz y corola como en las flores estaminadas; estilo delgado; estigma corto; ovario peloso; pedicelos fructificantes 2-6 cm. Frutos 1.5-60 × 1.5-30 cm, subglobosos, glabros, verdes a amarillos; pulpa amarilla a rosada; semillas 9-11 × 5-6 × 2.5-2.7 mm, ovoide-elipsoides, lisas a ligeramente verrucosas. Cultivada. Ch ( Breedlove 10613, F); Y ( Lira 502, MO); C ( Chan 4676, MO); QR ( Lira 448, MO); B (Balick et al., 2000: 75); G (Dieterle, 1976: 324); H ( Bustillo 81, MO); ES ( Standley 3555, F); N ( Moreno 9072, MO); CR ( Baker 164, MO); P ( Saver 2320, F). 0-300 m. (Nativa del Kalahari, Sudáfrica; cultivada mundialmente.)

Source: [
• 8
]. 

Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cat. Sem. Spor. Hort. Bot. Univ. Imp. Tokyo 1916: 30. 1916; Cucurbita citrullus L.; Momordica lanata Thunb.; Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh.; Colocynthis citrullus (L.) Kuntze.

Plantas anuales, usualmente rastreras, suavemente pilosas; monoicas. Hojas ovadas o ampliamente ovadas, 5–20 cm de largo y 2.5–17 cm de ancho, cordadas, membranosas, vellosas especialmente en los nervios del envés, tornándose escábrido-punteadas cuando viejas, por lo general profundamente 3–5-palmatilobadas, los lobos profundamente 5–7-pinnatilobulados, el lóbulo central más grande; lóbulos agudos a redondeados, apiculados; pecíolos 2–18.5 cm de largo, vellosos; zarcillos usualmente bífidos. Flores solitarias, axilares, probrácteas presentes en la base del pedicelo, obovado-espatuladas, 4–14 mm de largo; flores estaminadas pediceladas, pedicelos 1.5–4.5 cm de largo, hipanto ampliamente campanulado-obcónico, 2–5 mm de largo, sépalos 5, lanceolados, 2–5.5 mm de largo, verde pálidos, corola campanulada, pétalos 5, obovados, 6–19 mm de largo, cortamente unidos en el base, amarillos con los nervios verdes, estambres 3, conectivos anchos, tecas flexuosas; flores pistiladas pediceladas, pedicelos 0.3–4.5 cm de largo, hipanto 1.5–2 mm de largo, perianto igual al de las flores estaminadas, ovario elipsoide a subgloboso, velloso, 6–15 mm de largo, placentas 3, óvulos numerosos, estigmas 3. Frutos subglobosos a elipsoides, redondeados, grandes, hasta 60 cm de largo y 30 cm de ancho, verdes, frecuentemente variegados o rayados en verde más obscuro, con la cáscara rígida, carnosos, la carne amarilla a roja, jugosa, dulce; semillas numerosas, ovadas, 7–11 mm de largo, 4–6 mm de ancho y 2.5–2.7 mm de grueso, lisas o ligeramente ásperas, de diversos colores, a veces variegadas.

Común en bosques deciduos y pastizales en suelos arenosos, especialmente en los márgenes de los lagos, en todas las zonas del país; 0–500 m; fl y fr jun–oct; Araquistain 119, Stevens 9496; nativa de la región del Kalahari en el sur de Africa, cultivada en todos los países cálidos por sus frutos y semillas comestibles, localmente naturalizada. Existen otras 2 especies perennes en Africa. "Sandía".

Source: [
• 9
]. 

Annual, creeping, vines; stems lanate when young, later glabrescent. Leaves triangular ovate, 8-20 cm long, 5-15 cm wide, pinnatifid or bipinnatifid, the lobes broad, the sinuses rounded, the apex of the lobes rounded or acute, the base cordate, 3-veined, the margin undulate or irregularly toothed, pale green, charta- ceous, the upper surface sparsely lanate on the veins, glaucous, minutely pustu- late dotted, the lower surface somewhat lanate, especially on the veins; petioles villous or lanate, 3-8 cm long, striate; tendrils villous or lanate, 2- to 5-branched. Staminate flowers axillary, usually solitary, moderate in size; peduncles 2-4 cm long, villous or lanate; calyx broadly campanulate, ca. 1 cm long, green, villous, the lobes linear lanceolate, subequalling the tube; corolla campanulate, 2.5-3.0 cm long, the lobes ovate oblong, obtuse, yellow, the outer surface villous, the inner surface papillose, 5-nerved; filaments 2-3 mm long, stout, glabrate, slightly

Source: [
• 10
]. 

diverging, the anthers ca. 3 mm long; pistillodium glanduliform. Pistillate flow- ers similarly disposed as the staminate flowers; calyx and corolla as in the stami- nate; ovary ovoid, the style column slender, the stigmas short, the lobes spread- ing; staminodia setiform, villous at the base. Fruits green, mottled, or striped with dark and light green, globose to oblong, white within, the outer rind hard, the inner flesh pink or yellow, smooth, glabrous; seeds numerous, elliptical, 3-12 mm long, dirty white to black or mottled, smooth or nearly so.

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Bejuco herbáceo, generalmente rastrero, monoico; tallos 5–10-surcados, los zarcillos 2–5-ramificados. Hojas simples, 4.5–14 X 2–7 cm, pinnada a bipinnadamente lobuladas, de otra forma onduladas o irregularmente dentadas, sin glándulas laminares. Infls. de 1 fl. solitaria o (raramente) pocas fls. fasciculadas.  Fls. con el hipanto ampliamente campanulado; sépalos 5; pétalos 5, amarillo pálido con nervadura verde, connatos en una corola rotada o ampliamente campanulada, los lóbulos 6–19 mm; estambres (fls. estaminadas) 3, los filamentos separados; anteras separadas o débil- mente connatas, flexuosas; estaminodios (fls. pistiladas) 3, setiformes o ligulados; estilo 1; estigmas 3, ± bilobulados, carnosos. Frs. verdes (a veces variegados o rayados con verde más claro), ca. 30–70 cm, oblongoides a globosos, carnosos, lisos, indehiscentes, con 3 placentas; semillas numerosas, horizontales, oblongoides u ovoides, comprimidas, con un par de protuberancias en el extremo hilar.

Source: [
• 11
]. 

Tendrils well-developed, usually 2- or 3-fid; flowers monoecious, ovary and fruit smooth.

Source: [
• 15
]. 

Fruit of wild plants 1·5–20 cm. in diameter, subglobose, greenish mottled with darker green, of cultivated plants up to 60 × 30 cm., subglobose or ellipsoid, green or yellowish, concolorous or variously mottled or striped; fruit-stalk 2–5 cm. long.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Seeds c. 9–11 × 5–6 × 2·5–2·7 mm., ovate-elliptic in outline, smooth or slightly verrucose, dark or pale coloured, often mottled, sometimes bordered.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Female flowers on 3–45 mm. long pedicels; ovary 6–15 × 4–8 mm., ellipsoid or subglobose, villous; receptacle-tube 1·5–2 mm. long, lobes 2·5–5·5 mm. long; corolla as in male flowers.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Probracts 4–18 mm. long, obovate-spathulate.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

male flowers on ± villous 12–45 mm. long pedicels; receptacle-tube 2.5–5 mm. long, pale green, lobes 2·5–5 mm. long, lanceolate. Petals 0·7–1·9 × 0·4–1·4 cm., obovate, rounded, apiculate.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Stems prostrate or scandent to 10 m., ± villous, glabrescent.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Tendrils 2–3-fid.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Leaf-lamina 5–20 × 3·5–19 cm., ovate or narrowly ovate in outline, cordate, ± hairy (especially on the veins beneath), becoming scabrid-punctate, usually deeply palmately 3–5-lobed, the lobes elliptic in outline, shallowly to usually deeply ± pinnately lobulate, subentire or obscurely sinuate-denticulate, rounded to subacute, apiculate, the central much the largest.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Petioles 2–18·5 cm. long, ± hairy or villous, sometimes scabrescent.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Annual herb.

Source: [
• 5
]. 

Leaf-blade ovate or elongated-ovate in outline, ± long-hairy on the nerves especially beneath, otherwise smooth, becoming scabrid-punctate especially beneath, membranous, 58–202 mm. long, 36–190 mm. broad, usually palmately deeply 3–5(–7)-lobed; lobes elongated-ovate in outline, ± pinnately sinuate-lobulate, rarely subentire, shallowly and obscurely sinuate-toothed, with the central lobe much the largest, obtuse to emarginate and apiculate; petiole long-hairy, 21–140 mm. long.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Tendrils bifid, rarely simple or (in extra-African forms) 3–4-fid.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Annual climber or trailer to 3 m.; stems herbaceous, rather softly long-hairy.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Female flowers on 3–35 mm. long pedicels; ovary ellipsoid or subglobose, hairy, 6–12 mm. long, 5–8 mm. across; receptacle-tube 1.5–2 mm. long, lobes 3.5–4 mm. long; petals ± 11 mm. long and 5 mm. broad.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Fruit on a 20–40 mm. long stalk, ellipsoid or subspherical, 130–300 mm. or more in diameter, hairy, green mottled with paler green or yellowish in ± irregular longitudinal stripes or concolorous, terete or slightly ribbed, firm-walled, fleshy, indehiscent.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Probract obovate-spathulate, hooded, 4–8 mm. long.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Male flowers on 12–40 mm. long pedicels; receptacle-tube pale green, 3–4 mm. long; lobes lanceolate, 3–5 mm. long; petals yellow, 7–16 mm. long and 5–10 mm. broad, united below.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Seeds ovate in outline, ± 10 × 5 × 2.5 mm., sometimes smaller or more often rather larger, smooth or slightly verrucose, not or sometimes distinctly bordered.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Fig. 5/1–5, p. 45.

Source: [
• 6
]. 

Prostrate or scandent annual herb. Tendrils 2- or 3-fid. Leaf lamina deeply palmately 3-5-lobed; lobes elliptic in outline, shallowly to deeply pinnately lobulate, subentire or obscurely sinuate-denticulate. Male and female flowers solitary. Fruits 15-200 mm in diameter, subglobose, greenish mottled with darker green. Flowers yellow.

Source: [
• 12
]. 

Monoecious, hairy, trailing annual to 3 m long. Leaves pinnatisect with rounded, slightly toothed lobes. Flowers solitary in axils, greenish yellow. Fruits globose, mottled green.

Source: [
• 14
]. 

A prostrate monoecious annual, producing several herbaceous, rather firm and stout stems up to 3 m long. Young parts more or less densely lanate-villous (with curved hairs), older parts glabrescent. Leaves ovate or triangular-ovate in outline, cordate at the base, herbaceous but rigid, soon somewhat scabrous on both sides, 6-20 cm long and 4-15 cm broad, deeply trifid with lobulate to pinnatilobed, obovate, oblong or linear to lanceolate segments of which the central one is always the longest and usually acute or acuminate; the lateral ones usually rounded to obtuse at the apex often more or less bilobed; petioles usually with some curved hairs, 4-12 cm long. Tendrils rather robust, usually bifid, pubescent especially towards the apex at least when young. Male flowers: peduncle usually elongate, villous; receptacle broadly campanulate, villous; sepals about as long as the receptacle; corolla usually greenish on the outside, pale yellow inside, up to 3 cm in diam. Female flowers: ovary lanate: style 4-5 mm long. Fruit in the wild form globose (3-) 6-20 cm in diam., in the cultivated forms globose to ellipsoid or oblong and up to 60 cm long and 30 cm in diam., soon quite glabrous and smooth; the pericarp hard but not woody, in the wild forms pale green or greyish green usually mottled with longitudinal irregular bands of dark green or dark greyish green, in cultivated forms often concolorous, very pale green to dark green or yellowish, or mottled with darker green; or marmored with a darker shade; the flesh in the wild form and some cultivated forms (citron-watermelon) used for preserve, firm and rather hard, almost invariably white, in cultivated forms somewhat spongy in texture but very juicy and soft, usually pink or bright reddish-pink. Seeds usually very numerous, in wild forms black or dark brown as a rule; in cultivated forms also white or mottled, varying in size but usually 6-12 mm long.

Source: [
• 15
]. 

Annual herb; monoecious. Stems procumbent or scandent. Tendrils 2- or 3-fid. Leaves petiolate; blade deeply palmately 3-5-lobed, lobes elliptic, shallowly to deeply pinnately lobulate, margin subentire or obscurely sinuate-denticulate; petioles up to 120 mm long. Flowers: male and female solitary; corolla yellow; Oct.-May. Fruit subglobose, 15-200 mm in diameter, greenish mottled with darker green.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Monoecious, hairy annual, with prostrate stems, up to 3 m long, with robust, usually bifid tendrils. Leaves ± ovate, up to 200 mm long, deeply trifid, with rounded, slightly toothed lobes. Male and female flowers solitary in leaf axils, up to 30 mm diam., greenish yellow. Fruit globose, 30-200 mm diam., glabrous, mottled green, flesh white, edible, (sometimes used for preserve, progenitor of watermelon).

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Liana/volúvel/trepadeira

vines

Source: [
• 10
]. 

Terrícola

Grassland and bushland, often along watercourses.

Source: [
• 12
]. 

Sandy soils.

Source: [
• 14
]. 

Grassland and bushland, often along water courses.

Source: [
• 15
]. 

Kalahari Deciduous Acacia-wooded Grassland; Dry Grassland; Mesic Grassland; Dwarf Karroid Shrubland. Grassland, bush groups, often along watercourses.

Source: [
• 16
]. 

Dry areas, in sandy soils.

Source: [
• 17
]. 

Cold Bokkeveld to tropical Asia, occurrences further south to Cape Town are evidently adventive.

Source: [
• 14
]. 

An old cultigen cultivated and adventive in the warmer parts of the world, but truly native most probably chiefly in the Kalahari area. Tropical Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa (all provinces).

Source: [
• 15
]. 

Widespread in southern Africa, also tropical Africa and Asia.

Source: [
• 17
].