Cucurbitaceae

Citrullus Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh.

First published in 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.

Descriptions

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]

Sources

  • 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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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