Watermelon has been described as “social by nature” and eager to “join any party in sight,” making it an essential component of any cookout.
Watermelon is a deliciously refreshing summer fruit. But what is watermelon classified as? Is watermelon a berry or a fruit?
To put it succinctly, watermelon is actually a berry, and in this article, we will explain why watermelon is considered a berry.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What Is Watermelon?
Watermelon is an annual with a prostrate or ascending growth habit. Stems can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length, with yellow or brown hairs on fresh growth.
Leaves range in size from 60 to 200 mm (2¼ to 7¾ inches) in length and 40 to 150 mm (1½ to 6 inches) in width. These normally have three-lobed or doubly lobed lobes. The plant’s first growth is thickly wooly, with yellowish-brown hairs that fade as it matures.
Watermelon, like all but one species in the Citrullus genus, has branching tendrils. Plants contain unisexual male or female flowers that are white or yellow and are borne on hairy stalks that are 40 millimeters long (1½ in).
The species’ reproductive system, with male and female flowers produced on each plant, is simple, with each flower growing solitary in the leaf axils (monoecious). The male flowers bloom first in the season, followed by the female flowers, which bloom later.
The huge fruit, known as a pepo, is a modified berry with a thick exterior (exocarp) and juicy core (mesocarp and endocarp). Fruits on wild plants can reach 20 cm (8 in) in diameter, while cultivated versions can reach 60 cm (24 in).
The fruit’s peel is a mid-to dark green color that is frequently mottled or striped, and the flesh, which contains several pips, can be red or pink (most commonly), orange, yellow, green, or white.
C. amarus, a bitter watermelon, has become naturalized in semiarid regions of several continents and is considered a “pest plant” in parts of Western Australia, where it is known as “pig melon.”
Read Also: Best Companion Plants For Watermelon
Is Watermelon a Fruit?
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a succulent fruit and vine-like plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family; it is native to equatorial Africa and grown worldwide.
The fruit is normally eaten uncooked and includes vitamin A, and some vitamin C. Pickling the rind is a popular method of preserving it.
In botanical terms, the fruit is a type of berry known as a pepo. The reddish, white, or yellow sweet juicy flesh varies with variety, as does the form of the fruit and the thickness of the rind.
The weight of watermelon can range from 1 to 2 kilograms (2.5 to 5 pounds) to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) or more. The quantity of grapes per vine varies between two and fifteen.
Watermelon is a fruit but is specifically classified as a berry.
Is Watermelon a Vegetable?
As if your day wasn’t already difficult enough, there’s a long-running controversy over whether watermelon is a vegetable at all.
Watermelon is a fruit, just like peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins. It is the fruit of a vine that originated in southern Africa.
According to Webster’s dictionary, a vegetable is anything manufactured or obtained from plants; hence watermelon is called a vegetable because it is grown as a vegetable crop using vegetable production systems.
The outer rind of the watermelon is used as a vegetable in areas like China, where it is stir-fried, stewed, and frequently pickled.
However, Watermelon isn’t a Vegetable!
Is Watermelon a Berry?
A berry is a simple fleshy fruit with many seeds, such as a banana, grape, or tomato. A berry is a basic fruit made from a single ovary of a single flower.
Pepos refers to the elongated, tough-skinned fruits of the Cucurbitaceae family, which include watermelons, cucumbers, and gourds.
Therefore, watermelons are berries!
Conclusion: Is Watermelon a Berry or a Fruit?
There are always attempts to bring order to the classification of fruits. But, given that this has been going on for millennia don’t hold your breath for a quick solution.”
The moral of the story is that, while a summer fruit’s flavor is an open book, its name might tell lies.
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- Is Lettuce a Vegetable?
- Is Carrot A Fruit?
- Is Kiwi a Citrus Fruit?
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- Is Onion a Fruit or Vegetable?
