Watermelon

(Citrullus lanatus)

Cucurbitaceae family

Watermelons are native to Africa. They were first domesticated by the Egyptians, sometime around 2000 B.C., although wild types are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Watermelons are annual, monoecious diploids (2n=22), although seedless triploid cultivars are now commercially common. These triploid fruit are made via hybridization between diploids and tetraploids. Watermelons grow best in hot summers.

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