«Healing nectar» - Citrullus lanatus Seeds
1.39 €
Watermelon originates in southern Africa and was domesticated at least four thousand years ago, having been cultivated in ancient Egypt, it is now cultivated throughout the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world.
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Citrullus lanatus «Healing nectar»
Watermelon originates in southern Africa and was domesticated at least four thousand years ago, having been cultivated in ancient Egypt. It is now cultivated throughout the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. Escapes are occasionally found in dumps, pond shores, fields and abandoned gardens in New England.
Uses
C. lanatus subsp. lanatus var. citroides: The fruit of this cultigen, known as the citron melon or in southern Africa as the makataan, is larger than the tsamma, also sweet and has a more or less concolorous rind and yellowish flesh. It is a traditional crop with several landraces in many parts of the world, e.g. Africa, the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, and introduced in the United States, Polynesia and Russia. The fruits are mostly used as fodder, but also for the production of citron peel or pectin. This plant also occurs as a weed in many countries.
In southern Africa it has been cultivated since pre-colonial times with other crops such as sorghum and maize. The tender young leaves and fruits are cooked as green vegetables, while the fruit flesh may be cooked as porridge with maize meal. It is also a valuable stock feed, especially in times of drought. The makataan is an old favourite for making jam or preserve. The flesh from just below the rind is cut into squares and used to make what is called makataankonfyt . The fruit of the makataan can also be pickled.