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watermelon, plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the family Curcurbitaceae (gourd family) native to Africa and introduced to America by Africans transported as slaves. Watermelons are now extensively cultivated in the United States and are popular also in S Russia. The fleshy, juicy fruit is eaten fresh, the rind is pickled, and in Asia the seeds are eaten. Seedless and thin-rinded varieties have been developed, and one white-fleshed variety, the citron melon, is used like citron in preserving. Watermelons are classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Curcurbitaceae.
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