Cucurbitaceae

Citrullus Schrad.

First published in C.F.Ecklon & K.L.P.Zeyher, Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral.: 279 (1836), nom. cons.

This genus is accepted

The native range of this genus is Macaronesia, Medit., Tropical & S. Africa, Arabian Peninsula to India.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit: Trailing or scandent annual or perennial herbs
Morphology Leaves: Leaves simple, usually deeply lobed
Morphology General Tendrils: Tendrils simple or 2–4-fid or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences: Monoecious
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla: Petals 5, yellow, shortly united
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens: Stamens 3, 2 two-thecous, 1 one-thecous, inserted on the lower part of the hypanthium, free; connective broad; thecae flexuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Female flowers solitary Male flowers solitary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary: Ovary smooth, hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules: Ovules many, horizontal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium: Hypanthium very shortly cylindrical Hypanthium shortly obconic. Sepals 5, small, remote
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth: Perianth like that of male flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma: Stigmas 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Fruit subglobose to ellipsoid, firm-walled, fleshy, indehiscent, green or yellowish, often mottled, many-seeded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds compressed.
Distribution: Seven species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World.

[FSOM]

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1967

Morphology General Habit: Annual or tuberous-rooted perennial trailing or climbing herbs
Morphology Leaves: Leaves simple, usually deeply ± pinnately lobed
Morphology General Tendrils: Tendrils simple, proximally 2–4-fid, or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts: Probracts present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Flowers yellow, of medium size, monoecious Male flowers solitary; receptacle-tube short, campanulate; lobes moderately large; petals 5, united below the middle; stamens inserted on the tube, 3 (2 double 2-thecous, 1 single 1-thecous), free; connectives broad; thecae flexuous Female flowers solitary; ovary hairy, subglobose; ovules many, horizontal; receptacle-tube short; staminodes present; stigma 3-lobed
sex Male: Male flowers solitary; receptacle-tube short, campanulate; lobes moderately large; petals 5, united below the middle; stamens inserted on the tube, 3 (2 double 2-thecous, 1 single 1-thecous), free; connectives broad; thecae flexuous
sex Female: Female flowers solitary; ovary hairy, subglobose; ovules many, horizontal; receptacle-tube short; staminodes present; stigma 3-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Fruit large, subspherical, greenish, firm-walled, fleshy, indehiscent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds many, usually ovate in outline, compressed, smooth or slightly rough
Figures: Fig. 5, p. 45.

[FTEA]

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit: Prostrate or scandent annual or perennial herbs.
Morphology Leaves: Leaves simple, petiolate, usually ± deeply lobed.
Morphology General Tendrils: Tendrils simple, proximally 2–4-fid, or absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts: Probracts present.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers: Female flowers solitary; receptacle-tube very short, cylindrical, perianth otherwise similar to that of male flower; staminodes 3; ovary ellipsoid or subglobose, hairy, smooth; ovules many, horizontal; stigma 3-lobed. Male flowers solitary. Receptacle-tube short, campanulate; lobes lanceolate, remote. Petals 5, shortly united, entire. Stamens 3, 2 double two-thecous, 1 single one-thecous; filaments inserted on receptacle-tube; connectives broad; thecae flexuous. Flowers yellow, monoecious.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits: Fruit subspherical or ellipsoid, greenish or yellow, often mottled, terete, firm-walled, fleshy, indehiscent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds: Seeds ovate in outline, compressed, smooth or slightly rough.

[FZ]

Flora Zambesiaca
- Flora Zambesiaca
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Flora of Somalia
- Flora of Somalia
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
- 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
Kew Backbone Distributions
- The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
- © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
- The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
- © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Kew Science Photographs
- Copyright applied to individual images

Descriptions