Watermelon is a flowering plant species of the
Cucurbitaceae family and the name of its edible fruit. A scrambling and
trailing vine-like plant, it is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide,
with more than 1,000 varieties.
Considerable breeding effort has developed disease-resistant varieties.
Many cultivars are available that produce mature fruit within 100 days
of planting. In 2017, China produced about two-thirds of the world's
total of watermelons.
Watermelons are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1 and
vitamin B6. They also contain potassium, magnesium, carotenoid
antioxidant, and lycopene. The watermelon flesh is healthy to eat.