Sierra Acai Company
Sierra Acai Company
Open 7 Days a Week
MonaVie Independent Distributor
Distributor Training
Shop Online
Enroll Now
Buy Wholesale and maintain an Active status for 2 months and we will refund your $39 Distributor Fee
Friends
Buy Wholesale and maintain an Active status for 2 months and we will refund your $39 Distributor Fee
07-SEPTEMBER-2008 03:17:44 - Watermelon For the political designation, see Eco-socialism. Watermelon watermelon watermelon Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Citrullus Species: C. lanatus Binomial name Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Matsum. Nakai Watermelon Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Matsum Nakai, family Cucurbitaceae refers to both fruit and plant of a vine-like climber and trailer herb originally from southern Africa and one of the most common types of melon. This flowering plant produces a special type of fruit known by botanists as a pepo, which has a thick rind exocarp and fleshy center mesocarp and endocarp; pepos are derived from an inferior ovary and are characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon although not in the genus Cucumis, has a smooth exterior rind green and yellow and a juicy, sweet, usually pink, red, or yellow, but sometimes orange, interior flesh. Contents 1 History 2 Culture 2.1 Seedless watermelons 3 As food and drink 4 Varieties 5 Cultural uses and references 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links History David Livingstone, an explorer of Africa, described watermelon as abundant in the Kalahari desert, where it is believed to have originated. There, the ancestral melon grows wild and is known as the Tsamma melon Citrullus lanatus var tastius.citation needed It is also known in Zimbabwe as 'nwiwa, mwiwa or iswe'. It is recognizable by its pinnatifid leaves and prolific fruit, up to 100 melons on a single vine.citation needed For this reason it is a popular source of water in the diet of the indigenous people. The flesh is similar to the rind of a watermelon and is often known as citron melon distinct from the actual citron, of the citrus family; it is used for making jam and other preserves, and because of its high content of pectin is popular as a constituent of jams, jellies, and other gelled preserves. It has established itself in the wild in Baja California. Watermelons on display by a roadside vendor in Delhi, India Watermelons on display by a roadside vendor in Delhi, India It is not known when the plant was first cultivated, but Zohary and Hopf note evidence of its cultivation in the Nile Valley from at least as early as the second millennium BC. Finds of the characteristically large seed are reported in Twelfth dynasty sites; numerous watermelon seeds were recovered from the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, .1 ,although the existence of the fruit in ancient Egypt is not certain because it is not depicted in any hieroglyphic text nor any ancient writer mentions it , also it wasn't present in any other culture of the ancient Merranean. By the 10th century AD, watermelons were being cultivated in China, which is today the world's single largest watermelon producer. By the 13th century, Moorish invaders had introduced the fruit to Europe; and, according to John Mariani's The Dictionary of American Food and Drink, watermelon made its first appearance in an English dictionary in 1615. In Vietnam, legend holds that watermelon was discovered in Vietnam long before it reached China, in the era of the Hùng Kings. According to legend, watermelon was discovered by Prince Mai An Tiêm, an adopted son of the 11th Hùng King. When he was exiled unjustly to an island, he was told that if he could survive for six months, he would be allowed to return. When he prayed for guidance, a bird flew past and dropped a seed. He cultivated the seed and called its fruit dÆ°a tây or western melon, because the birds who ate it flew from the west. When the Chinese took over Vietnam in about 110 BC, they called the melons dÆ°a hảo good melon or dÆ°a hấu, dÆ°a Tây, dÆ°a hảo, dÆ°a hấu-all words for watermelon. An Tiêm's island is now a peninsula in the suburban district of Nga SÆ¡n.23 Museums Online South Africa list watermelons as having been introduced to North American Indians in the 1500s. Early French explorers found Native Americans cultivating the fruit in the Mississippi Valley. Many sources list the watermelon as being introduced in Massachusetts as early as 1629. Southern food historian John Egerton has said he believes African slaves helped introduce the watermelon to the United States. Texas Agricultural Extension horticulturalist Jerry Parsons lists African slaves and European colonists as having distributed watermelons to many areas of the world. Parsons also mentions the crop being farmed by Native Americans in Florida by 1664 and the Colorado River area by 1799. Other early watermelon sightings include the Midwestern states 1673, Connecticut 1747, and the Illiana region 1822. Seedless Watermelon. Seedless Watermelon. Until the 1940s, however, it was hard to find watermelons in good condition at grocery stores. Melon lovers had to grow their own, which tended not to keep for long, purchase them from local grocers supplied by truck farmers, or purchase them from roadside produce stands. Now they can be found in most local grocery stores, and if preferred in slices or whole, with seeds or without. Charles Fredric Andrus, a horticulturist at the USDA Vegetable Breeding Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina, set out to produce a disease-resistant and wilt-resistant watermelon. The result was that gray melon from Charleston. Its oblong shape and hard rind made it easy to stack and ship. Its adaptability meant it could be grown over a wide geographical area. It produced high yields and was resistant to the most serious watermelon diseases: anthracnose and fusarium wilt. Today, farmers in approximately 44 states in the U.S. grow watermelon commercially, and almost all these varieties have some Charleston Gray in their lineage. Georgia, Florida, Texas, California and Arizona are the USA's largest watermelon producers. This now-common watermelon is large enough that groceries often sell half or quarter melons. There are also some smaller, spherical varieties of watermelon, both red- and yellow-fleshed, sometimes called icebox melons. Culture Flower stems of male and female watermelon blossoms, showing ovary incipient fruit if pollinated on the female Flower stems of male and female watermelon blossoms, showing ovary incipient fruit if pollinated on the female For commercial plantings, one beehive per acre over 9,000 m² per hive is the minimum recommendation by the US Department of Agriculture for pollination of conventional, seeded varieties. Because seedless hybrids have sterile pollen, pollinizer rows of varieties with viable pollen must also be planted. Since the supply of viable pollen is reduced and pollination is much more critical in producing the seedless variety, the recommended number of hives per acre, or pollinator density, increases to three hives per acre 1,300 m² per hive. Square watermelon from Japan Square watermelon from Japan In Japan, farmers of the Zentsuji region found a way to grow cubic watermelons, by growing the fruits in glass boxes and letting them naturally assume the shape of the receptacle.4 The square shape is designed to make the melons easier to stack and store, but the square watermelons are often more than double the price of normal ones. Pyramid shaped watermelons have also been developed. A group of watermelon leaves A closeup of a watermelon leaf Seedless watermelons Although so-called seedless watermelons have far fewer seeds than the seeded varieties, they generally contain at least a few soft, pale seeds. They are the product of crossing a female tetraploid plant itself the product of genetic manipulation, using colchicine with diploid pollen. The resulting triploid plant is sterile, but will produce the seedless fruit if pollenized by a diploid plant. For this reason, commercially available seedless watermelon seeds actually contain two varieties of seeds; that of the triploid seedless plant itself recognizable because the seed is larger, and the diploid plant which is needed to pollenize the triploid. Unless both plant types are grown in the same vicinity, no seedless fruit will result. As food and drink Watermelon output in 2005 Watermelon output in 2005 Watermelon, raw edible parts Nutritional value per 100 g 3.5 oz Energy 30 kcal 130 kJ Carbohydrates 7.55 g - Sugars 6.2 g - Dietary fiber 0.4 g Fat 0.15 g Protein 0.61 g Water 91.45 g Vitamin A equiv. 28 μg 3% Thiamin Vit. B1 0.033 mg 3% Riboflavin Vit. B2 0.021 mg 1% Niacin Vit. B3 0.178 mg 1% Pantothenic acid B5 0.221 mg 4% Vitamin B6 0.045 mg 3% Folate Vit. B9 3 μg 1% Vitamin C 8.1 mg 14% Calcium 7 mg 1% Iron 0.24 mg 2% Magnesium 10 mg 3% Phosphorus 11 mg 2% Potassium 112 mg 2% Zinc 0.10 mg 1% Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database Fresh watermelon may be eaten in a variety of ways and is also often used to flavor summer drinks and smoothies. Watermelon contains about six percent sugar by weight, the rest being mostly water. As with many other fruits, it is a source of vitamin C. It is not a significant source of other vitamins and minerals unless one eats several kilograms per day. The amino acid citrulline was first extracted from watermelon and analysed. 5 Watermelons contain a significant amount of citrulline and after consumption of several kg an elevated concentration is measured in the blood plasma, this could be mistaken for citrullinaemia or other urea cycle disorder.6 Watermelon rinds are also edible, and sometimes used as a vegetable. In China, they are stir-fried, stewed, or more often pickled. When stir-fried, the de-skinned and de-fruited rind is cooked with olive oil, garlic, chili peppers, scallions, sugar and rum. Pickled watermelon rind is also commonly consumed in the Southern US, 7 Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.citation needed In Balkans, specially Serbia, watermelon slatko is also popular 8. Watermelon seeds are rich in fat and protein,citation needed and are widely eaten as a snack, added to other dishes, or used as an oilseed. Specialized varieties are grown which have little watery flesh but concentrate their energy into seed production. In China watermelon seeds are one of the most common snack foods, competing with sunflower seeds, and sold roasted and seasoned.citation needed In West Africa, they are pressed for oil, and are popular in egusi soup and other dishes.citation needed There can be some confusion between seed-specialized watermelon varieties and the colocynth, a closely-related species with which they share many characteristics, uses, and similar or identical names. Watermelon is 92 percent water by weight.9 Watermelon is also mildly diuretic. A traditional food plant in Africa, this fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.10 Some people also prepare and eat watermelon peel.11 Varieties Watermelon with yellow flesh Watermelon with yellow flesh There are more than twelve hundred 12 varieties of watermelon ranging in size from less than a pound, to more than two hundred pounds with flesh that is red, orange, yellow, or white.13 Several notable varieties are included here. Carolina Cross: This variety of watermelon produced the current world record watermelon weighing 262 pounds. It has green skin, red flesh and can commonly produce fruit between 65, and 150 pounds. It takes about 90 days from planting to harvest. 14 Yellow Crimson Watermelon: variety of watermelon that has a yellow colored flesh. This particular type of watermelon has been described as sweeter and more honey flavored than the more popular red flesh watermelon.15 Orangeglo: This variety has a very sweet orange pulp, and is a large oblong fruit weighing 9-14kg 20-30 pounds. It has a light green rind with jagged dark green stripes. It takes about 90-100 days from planting to harvest.16 The Moon and Stars variety of watermelon has been around since 1926s.17 The rind is purple/black and has many small yellow circles stars and one or two large yellow circles moon. The melon weighs 9-23kg 20-50 pounds.18 The flesh is pink or red and has brown seeds. The foliage is also spotted. The time from planting to harvest is about 90 days.19 Cream of Saskatchewan: This variety consists of small round fruits, around 25cm 10 inches in diameter. It has a quite thin, light green with dark green striped rind, with sweet white flesh and black seeds. It can grow well in cool climates. It was originally brought to Saskatchewan, Canada by Russian immigrants. These melons take 80-85 days from planting to harvest.20 Melitopolski: This variety has small round fruits roughly 28-30cm 11-12 inches in diameter. It is an early ripening variety that originated from the Volga River region of Russia, an area known for cultivation of watermelons. The Melitopolski watermelons are seen piled high by vendors in Moscow in summer. This variety takes around 95 days from planting to harvest.21 Densuke Watermelon: This variety has round fruit up to 25 lb 11 kg. The rind is black with no stripes or spots. It is only grown on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, where up to 10 000 watermelons are produced every year. In June 2008, one of the first harvested watermelons was sold at an auction for 650 000 yen 6300 USD, making the most expensive watermelon ever sold. The average selling price is generally around 25 000 yen 250 USD. 22 Cultural uses and references This section needs additional citations for verification. December 2007 Watermelon and other fruit in Boris Kustodiev's Merchant's Wife. Watermelon and other fruit in Boris Kustodiev's Merchant's Wife. Watermelons are used in many parts of the world as symbols and during various celebrations. Art related to the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos commonly depicts watermelons being eaten by the dead or shown in close conjunction with the dead. This theme appears regularly on ceramics and in other art from the holiday. Watermelons also appear as a subject in Mexican still life art. In Vietnam watermelon is used as part of the Vietnamese New Year's holiday, Tết, because it is considered a lucky colour. The seeds are also consumed during the holiday as a snack. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, African Americans often were depicted in racist caricatures as being inordinately fond of watermelon. The Oklahoma State Senate passed a bill on 17 April 2007 declaring watermelon as the official state vegetable, with some controversy as the watermelon is a fruit.23 Country music singer Tom T. Hall had a number one hit in 1973 entitled Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine. The Citrulline which exists in watermelon especially in the rind is thought to relax blood vessels, much like the erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra, and may even increase libido.24 See also Wikispecies has information related to: Citrullus vulgaris Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Watermelon Look up Watermelon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. List of fruits Vampire pumpkins and watermelons Gastric antral vascular ectasia Gallagher, a prop comic whose most famous bit involves smashing watermelons Notes ^ Daniel Zohary and Maria Hopf, Domestication of Plants in the Old World, third ion Oxford: University Press, 2000, p. 193. ^ Watermelon Magic, a Tale from Vietnam, Fairy-tales.info, webpage found 2007-11-26. ^ Juicy Details: Ian Swift Dives into the Legend of the Watermelon. Vietnam Investment Review, June 2003. ^ BBC Square fruit stuns Japanese shoppers BBC News Friday, 15 June, 2001, 10:54 GMT 11:54 UK ^ Wada, M. 1930. Ãœber Citrullin, eine neue Aminosäure im Presssaft der Wassermelone, Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.. Biochem. Zeit. 224: 420. ^ H. Mandel, N. Levy, S. Izkovitch, S. H. Korman 2005. Elevated plasma citrulline and arginine due to consumption of Citrullus vulgaris watermelon. Berichte der deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft 28 4: 467-472. doi:10.1007/s10545-005-0467-1. ^ Southern U.S. Cuisine: Judy's Pickled Watermelon Rind ^ Watermelon slatko Slatko od lubenicanot in citation given ^ Seven wonders of watermelon ^ National Research Council 2008-01-25. Watermelon, Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits, Lost Crops of Africa 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved on 2008-07-17. ^ The column of watermelon peel from 5hpk.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-15. ^ Vegetable Research Extension Center - Icebox Watermelons. Retrieved on 2008-08-02. ^ Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Watermelon Heirloom Seeds. Retrieved on 2008-07-15. ^ Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Carolina Cross Watermelon. Retrieved on 2008-07-15. ^ Anioleka Seeds USA. Yellow Crimson Watermelon. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. ^ Orangeglo Watermelon. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. ^ Moon and Stars Watermelon Heirloom. Retrieved on 2008-07-15. ^ Evans, Lynette 2005-07-15. Moon Stars watermelon Citrullus lanatus:Seed-spittin' melons makin' a comeback. Retrieved on 2007-07-06. ^ Moon and Stars Watermelon. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. ^ Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelon. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. ^ Melitopolski Watermelon. Retrieved on 2007-04-23. ^ Black Japanese watermelon sold at record price. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. ^ Oklahoma Declares Watermelon Its State Vegetable 2007-04-18. Retrieved on 2007-07-20. ^ Watermelon May Have Viagra-effect References United States Watermelon Speed Eating and Seed Spitting Championships held during Pardeeville Watermelon Festival in Chandler Park, Pardeeville, WI, USA, first Saturday after Labor Day. -M Blomberg, Marina June 10, 2004. In Season: Savory Summer Fruits. The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. An African Native of World Popularity. Texas AM University Aggie Horticulture website. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Blomberg, Marina June 10, 2004. In Season: Savory Summer Fruits. The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Charles Fredric Andrus: Watermelon Breeder. Cucurbit Breeding Horticultural Science. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Crop Production: Icebox Watermelons. Washington State University Vancouver Research and Extension Unit website. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Hamish, Robertson. Citrullus lanatus Watermelon, Tsamma. Museums Online South Africa. Retrieved Mar. 15, 2005. Motes, J.E.; Damicone, John; Roberts, Warren; Duthie, Jim; Edelson, Jonathan. Watermelon Production. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Parsons, Jerry, Ph.D. June 5, 2002. Gardening Column: Watermelons. Texas Cooperative Extension of the Texas AM University System. Jul. 17, 2005. Redneck Olympics. ISKRA television. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Shosteck, Robert 1974. Flowers and Plants: An International Lexicon with Biographical Notes. Quadrangle/The New York Times Book Co.: New York. Watermelon. The George Mateljan Foundation for The World's Healthiest Foods. Retrieved Jul. 28, 2005. Watermelon Production and Consumption Demographics. Watermelon History. National Watermelon Promotion Board website. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. Wolford, Ron and Banks, Drusilla. Watch Your Garden Grow: Watermelon. University of Illinois Extension. Retrieved Jul. 17, 2005. External links FAO Food and Agriculture Organization site about watermelons Watermelon Nutrition Facts Info-Site about watermelons Retrieved from http://en..org/wiki/Watermelon Categories: Melons | Plants and pollinators | CucurbitaceaeHidden categories: All articles with statements | Articles with statements since July 2008 | Articles with statements since February 2007 | Articles with statements since July 2007 | Articles needing additional references from December 2007 Views Article Discussion this page History Personal tools Log in / create account Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Search Go Search Interaction Community portal Recent changes Contact Donate to Help Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Printable version Permanent link Cite this page Languages العربية Avañe'ẽ AzÉ™rbaycan বাংলা Bân-lâm-gú Bosanski БългарÑ?ки Català Dansk Deitsch Deutsch Þ‹Þ¨ÞˆÞ¬Þ€Þ¨Þ„Þ¦Þ?Þ° Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Ù?ارسی Français Galego í•œêµì–´ हिनà¥?दी Hornjoserbsce Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქáƒ?რთული Қазақша Kreyòl ayisyen Latina Lietuvių Magyar മലയാളം मराठी Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本語 ‪Norsk bokmÃ¥l‬ Polski Português РуÑ?Ñ?кий Sámegiella Sicilianu Simple English SlovenÅ¡Ä?ina СрпÑ?ки / Srpski Srpskohrvatski / СрпÑ?кохрватÑ?ки Suomi Svenska తెలà±?à°—à±? Tiếng Việt faka-Tonga á?£áŽ³áŽ© Türkçe УкраїнÑ?ька ייִדיש ä¸æ–‡ This page was last modified on 29 August 2008, at 02:02
39 Reasons to Drink Acai Juice Every Day
What is MonaVie - Watch the 8-minute video
Discovering MonaVie Video
The Power of You Video
Effects of MonaVie Active on Antioxidant Capacity in Humans
Log into your Wholesale MonaVie Account
So many of us do not eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, have too much stress, or are impacted with toxins and pollutants. Drinking 2 ounces of MonaVie twice a day will help your body detoxify as well as build your immune system. Its the smartest thing you can do for yourself, so start today. Buying MonaVie through our company guarantees you support 7 days a week and, if you would like to share MonaVie with your family and friends we will guide you from start to finish.
1. Click on Enroll Now (30 - 55% off retail price)
2. Pay $39 for your Wholesale ID number.
3. NO minimum order required.
4. MonaVie is delivered to your door in 3 to 5 days.