Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near railway line by road to Hwange NP, Main Camp

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near western boundary, Zambezi National Park.

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Synonyms:	Citrullus vulgaris Eckl. & Zeyh. Colocynthis citrullus (L.) Kuntze Cucurbita citrullus L. Momordica lanata Thunb.
Common names:	Water melon (English)
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Description:	Annual herb with prostrate or climbing stems up to 10 m long, covered in long spreading hairs, particularly when young. Tendrils 2-3-fid. Leaves more or less narrowly ovate in outline, up to 20 × 19 cm, usually deeply palmately 3-5 lobed with lobes elliptic in outline and often lobed again; hairy when young, particularly on the veins beneath, becoming roughly punctate when older; margins almost entire or obscurely and finely sinuate-dentate. Flowers solitary, axillary, yellow, unisexual on the same plant. Fruit smooth, in wild plants 1.5-20 cm long, greenish with darker mottling; cultivated fruits much larger and often more elongated ellipsoid, up to 60 × 30 cm.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	lanatus: covered in soft, intertwined hairs, woolly or lanate.
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Altitude range:
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Worldwide distribution:	Cultivated throughout the warmer regions of the world and sometimes adventive. Native to the Kalahari sand region, including Botswana, Zambia and Western Zimbabwe.
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Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 149. Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 435 - 437. (Includes a picture). Jeffrey, C. & Fernandes, R.B. (1986). 80. Cucurbitaceae Flora de Moçambique Junta de Investigaçoes de Ultramar, Centro de Botanica Pages 37 - 38. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 161. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 38. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 44. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 558 - 559. (Includes a picture). Reekmans, M. (1983). Cucurbitaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 474. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 52. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 205. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 128 - 129. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Citrullus lanatus:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Botswana: cultivated Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Caprivi: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Citrullus lanatus
Flora of the DRC: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Malawi: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Malawi: cultivated Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Mozambique: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Zambia: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Citrullus lanatus
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Citrullus lanatus

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Citrullus lanatus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Citrullus lanatus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Citrullus lanatus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Citrullus lanatus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Citrullus lanatus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Citrullus lanatus
JSTOR Plant Science: Citrullus lanatus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Citrullus lanatus
Plants of the World Online: Citrullus lanatus
Tropicos: Citrullus lanatus
Wikipedia: Citrullus lanatus