By the 17th century, it had become naturalized in parts of Mexico and the southern United States. The wild versions were small, often bitter, and possessed hard, thick rinds that protected the precious liquid inside.
Watermelon Evolution and Botanical Genetics Through Time
This sprawling, vining plant belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is botanically classified as a berry, specifically a modified berry with a hard rind. It spread northward along established trade routes into the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
Ancient Egyptians were cultivating watermelons by at least 2,000 BCE, as evidenced by watermelon seeds and depictions found in tombs and agricultural records. Evidence strongly suggests that the watermelon's wild ancestor, *Citrullus lanatus* var.
Watermelon Evolution and Botanical Genetics Through Time
Origins in the Kalahari The story begins not in the humid tropics, but in the dry savannas of southern Africa. Spanish and Portuguese explorers are credited with introducing the fruit to the Caribbean and then to the mainland continents.
More About History of watermelon
Looking at History of watermelon from another angle can help expand the discussion and give readers a second clear paragraph under the same section.
More perspective on History of watermelon can make the topic easier to follow by connecting earlier points with a few simple takeaways.
