''Citrullus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of seven species of

desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

s, among which ''Citrullus lanatus'' (the

watermelon Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 varie ...

) is an important crop.

Taxonomy

Molecular data, including sequences from the original collection of ''Momordica lanata'' made near Cape Town by C. P. Thunberg in 1773, show that what Thunberg collected is not what has been called ''Citrullus lanatus'', the domesticated watermelon, since the 1930s. Although this error only occurred in 1930 (Bailey, Gentes Herbarum 2: 180–186), it has been perpetuated in hundreds of papers on the watermelon. In addition, there is an older name for the watermelon, ''Citrullus battich'' Forssk. (Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 167. Jun 1775), which would normally have the precedence over ''Momordica lanata'' Thunberg (Prodr. Pl. Cap.: 13. 1794). To solve this problem, it has been proposed to conserve the name ''Citrullus lanatus'' with a new type to preserve the current sense of the name

Species

''Citrullus'' consists of the following species and subspecies: *'' Citrullus amarus'' Schrad. – citron melon *'' Citrullus colocynthis'' ( L.) Schrad. – colocynth *'' Citrullus ecirrhosus'' Cogn. – tendril-less melon *''

Citrullus lanatus Watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, with more than 1,000 vari ...

'' ( Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai – desert watermelon ** ''Citrullus lanatus'' subsp. ''vulgaris'' var. ''cordophanus'' ( Ter-Avan.)

Fursa Saint Fursey (also known as Fursa, Fursy, Forseus, and Furseus: died 650) was an Irish monk who did much to establish Christianity throughout the British Isles and particularly in East Anglia. He reportedly experienced angelic visions of the af ...

** ''Citrullus lanatus'' var. ''lanatus'' *''

Citrullus mucosospermus ''Citrullus'' is a genus of seven species of desert vines, among which ''Citrullus lanatus'' (the watermelon) is an important crop. Taxonomy Molecular data, including sequences from the original collection of ''Momordica lanata'' made near C ...

'' (

)

–

egusi Egusi (Yoruba: '' ẹ̀gúsí,'' Igbo: ègwusi), also known as, agusi, ohue, Ikpan, Ikon, or agushi) is the name for the protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants ( squash, melon, gourd), which, after being dried and ground, are us ...

melon *''

Citrullus naudinianus ''Acanthosicyos naudinianus'', known as the Gemsbok cucumber, is a perennial African melon with edible fruits and seeds.Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys ...

'' ( Sond.)

Hook.f. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For twenty years he served as director of t ...

*''

Citrullus rehmii ''Citrullus'' is a genus of seven species of desert vines, among which ''Citrullus lanatus'' (the watermelon) is an important crop. Taxonomy Molecular data, including sequences from the original collection of ''Momordica lanata'' made near Cape ...

De Winter De Winter is a Dutch surname.http://www.meertens.knaw.nl/nfb/detail_naam.php?gba_lcnaam=de%20winter&gba_naam=de%20Winter&nfd_naam=Winter,%20de&operator=eq&taal= Notable people with the surname include: De Winter or de Winter: * Alfons De Winter (1 ...

References

External links

Chomicki, G., and S. S. Renner. 2015. Watermelon origin solved with molecular phylogenetics including Linnaean material: Another example of museomics. New Phytologist 205(2): 526-532
{{Taxonbar, from=Q132239 Cucurbitaceae genera Cucurbitoideae