Watermelon, Africa

The genus Passiflora, the best known group in the family Passifloraceae, also includes genera such as Ade-nia and Basananthe, both principally known from Africa. The plant families related most closely to the Passifloraceae are the Tumeraceae, (watermelons, cucumbers), and Begoniaceae (begonias). 

People around the world enjoy Africa s culinary contributions. These include the peanut Arachis hypogaea, Fabaceae), yam (Dioscorea spp., Dioscoreaceae), watermelon Citrullus lanatus, Cucurbitaceae), okra Abelmoschus esculentus, Malvaceae) and many other foods and flavors. In North America and in many other parts of the world there is little recognition of the many contributions that Africa has made to modem culture, i.e., perhaps beyond the domain of etlmobotanists and pharmacognosists. 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY. Watermelons originated in Africa, where they still occur in the wild, and where they have been cultivated for 4,000 years. From Africa, they spread to Asia, thence throughout the world. They were introduced in America soon after its discovery. 

Melons Cucumis melo) are relatives of cucumbers. The first melons were bitter, but they were bred to produce sweeter fruit and introduced into Europe from Africa by the Moors. They reached France in the fifteenth century and were taken to the New World by Columbus. Melons and cantaloupes contain high levels of carotenes. Watermelons Citrullus lanatus) are distant relatives of melons, widely spread throughout Africa. They were known to the Egyptians and wild watermelons grow in the Kalahari Desert. Watermelons were introduced to Europe in the fifteenth century. Watermelon can contain high levels of carotenes, particularly lycopene 23-72 mg/1 have been reported (van den Berg et al. 2000). 

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