Water melon

Origin and distribution

Originating in Africa, watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) were first cultivated in Egypt where testaments to their legacy were recorded in hieroglyphics painted on building walls. The fruit was held in such regard that it was placed in the tombs of many Egyptian kings. Watermelons were brought to China around the 10th century and then to the Western Hemisphere shortly after the discovery of the New World. Now, much of the commercial supply of watermelons is grown in Russia. In addition to Russia, the leading commercial growers of watermelon include China, Turkey, Iran and the United States.