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Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon, Tsamma)
[= Citrullus vulgaris] Life
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> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants)
> Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid I
> Order: Cucurbitales > Family: Cucurbitaceae
Wild Citrullus lanatus grows widely in Africa and
Asia. In southern Africa it grows in the Kalahari where it is known as Tsamma. Thought to have been domesticated in Africa at least
4000 years ago and now grown worldwide, particularly in regions with long, hot
summers.
Wild Citrullus lanatus grows widely in Africa and Asia. In southern
Africa it grows in the Kalahari where it is known as Tsamma. These wild melons
have been an important source of water and food to native tohabitants, as
well as explorers crossing the Kalahari. Besides being able to eat the
flesh, the seeds can be extracted from
the fruit, roasted over a fire and ground into a white meal which is evidently
rich in proteins and oil, and is tasty. This meal can also be used as a cosmetic:
after chewing it and moistening it with saliva, it is smeared over the body,
evidently resulting in a smoother, healthier, reddish coloured skin. The young
fruit and leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. There is a bitter form
of this wild melon which is evidently poisonous but which has been used
medicinally.
The history of domestication of watermelons is obscure but it is known that
by 2000 BC they were being grown in the Nile Valley in Egypt. A wide variety of
watermelons have been cultivated in Africa, varying in fruit size, fruit shape,
flesh colour, rind colour and seed colour. By 800 AD, watermelons had been
introduced to India and by 1100 AD to China. Watermelons were introduced to
Europe by the Moors during their conquest of Spain: there are records from
Córdoba in 961 AD and Seville in 1158. Their cultivation spread slowly into the
rest of Europe and by the early 1600's they were being widely cultivated
although generally only on a small scale. Watermelons grow best where there are
long, hot summers so as one goes north in Europe, conditions for growing them
become more unsuitable. North American Indians took to watermelons (and
Muskmelons) enthusiastically when they were introduced there by Spanish explorers in the
1500's. Through passing of seed from tribe to tribe, watermelon cultivation in
North America spread faster than European exploration of that
region.
Watermelon flesh has only about 7% sugar and has moderate
levels of Vitamins B and C. The seeds are made up of about 45% edible oil and
30-40% protein.
References
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Sauer, J.D. 1993. Historical geography of
crop plants - a select roster. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
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van Wyk, B.-E. 2005. Food Plants of the World -
Identification, Culinary Uses and Nutritional Value. Briza, Pretoria.
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van Wyk, B.-E. & Gericke, N. 2000. People's plants - a guide to useful
plants of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
Text by Hamish Robertson |
