What are watermelons – berries, fruits or vegetables: definitions of terminology and theory + homeland and area of ​​​​distribution of culture

The birthplace of watermelon and its distribution

Scientists have proven that the ancestor of watermelon is a wild colocynth, whose homeland is the Kalahari Desert (South Africa). A small plant with a powerful root system and bitter fruits served as a source of water for caravans. As a gourd culture, watermelon was first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians (XX century BC). A little later, Ancient Rome learned about it. Sweet fruits came to China by the XNUMXth century, where they gained crazy popularity.

Our Country got acquainted with the melon plant only by the XNUMXth century. thanks to the Crusades. And by the end of the XVII century. sweet fruits were already delivered to the royal table. They were not eaten fresh, but spicy molasses was prepared from the pulp. Later, by decree of Tsar Peter I, it was ordered to sow melons in the Lower Volga region. For a long time, the peasants bred a variety resistant to the local climate, until the famous Astrakhan and Volgograd watermelons appeared as a result of selection.

Video “Useful properties of watermelon”

From this video you will learn what useful and harmful properties watermelon has.

Definitions and theories

To determine which category a watermelon belongs to, you must first consider each of them.

Berry

Botanical science defines a berry as a thin-skinned fruit with one or many seeds and fleshy flesh. The only similarity of a watermelon with a similar description is that it is soft and juicy inside. Other than that, the following differences can be noted:

1. Thick skin. A ripe fruit cannot be eaten with the shell, like berries, as it contains substances harmful to the body.
2. The size. It is precisely because of the large dimensions that it is difficult for many to attribute gourds to this category.
3. Method of use. Unlike berries, large fruits must be cut into pieces, since they cannot be eaten whole.

In botany, watermelon is called a false berry or pumpkin.

Fruit

A fruit is a juicy edible fruit that grows on a tree. From a household point of view, watermelon can be classified in this category based on some similarities:

• conformity in appearance and size;
• edibility;
• juicy pulp.

The only significant difference that does not speak in favor of the pumpkin is the way it grows. Fruits do not tend to creep along the ground, like gourds.

Vegetable

In science, the term vegetable does not exist. Cooking, where it is used, defines it as the edible part of a plant or any solid plant food. Some encyclopedias include absolutely all fruits that grow in the garden and are suitable for food in this category. Based on these characteristics, even apples or strawberries can be attributed to vegetables. That is why general parallels with gourds are rarely drawn.

Scientists are still arguing about whether watermelon belongs to any one category. However, whatever its name, the juicy, sweet fruit is still a favorite summer treat for many.