Description: C. lanatus is an annual scrambling herb. It has leaves with toothed margins, greenish yellow flowers, and edible large fruits.   

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Uses

• The edible fruit is eaten as food that refreshes, as a source of hydration to quench thirst.
• The fruit is boiled until it becomes soft and is eaten as a vegetable. 
• The fruit is used as an aphrodisiac.
• The fruit is used as an astringent.
• The fruit is used as an expectorant.
• The fruit is used as a diuretic.
• The fruit is used as a stomachic.
• The fruit is used as a blood purifier. 
• The fruit cures biliousness.
• The fruit treats sore eyes.
• The fruit is used to treat scabies and itch. 
• The seeds are ground to powder and used to make a meal. 
• The shoots are eaten as a vegetable. 
• The shoots are boiled and the water taken as a tea for hypertension. 
• The plant is used as a charm to prevent worms from damaging crops.

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References and further reading

• Adetutu A., Olorunnisola O.S. and Owoade O.A., 2015. Nutritive values and antioxidant activity of Citrullus lanatus fruit extract. Food and Nutrition Sciences 6, pp.1056–1064. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ fns. 2015.611109  
• Deshmukh C.D., Jain A. and Tambe M.S., 2015. Phytochemical and pharmacological profile of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.). Biolife 3, pp. 483–488. http://dx.doi.org/10.17812/blj2015.32.18 
• De Wet, H., Ramulondi, M. and Ngcobo, Z.N., 2016. The use of indigenous medicine for the treatment of hypertension by a rural community in northern Maputaland, South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 103, pp.78–88.
• Erhirhie E.O. and Ekene N.E., 2013. Medicinal values of Citrullus lanatus (watermelon): Pharmacological review. IJRPBS 4, pp.1305–1312.
• Long, C., 2005. SiSwati names and uses – Swaziland Flora – Swaziland National Trust Commission, Mbabane. http://www.sntc.org.sz/flora/clbotalpha.asp?l=d
• Ntuli, N.R., Zobolo, A.M., Siebert, S.J. and Madakadze, R.M., 2012. Traditional vegetables of northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Has indigenous knowledge expanded the menu. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(45), pp.6027-6034.
• Rahman, H., Manjula, K., Anoosha, T. and Nagaveni, K., 2013. In-vitro and antioxidant activity of Citrullus lanatus seeds extracts. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research 6, pp.152–157.