Is watermelon a vegetable or a fruit?

Watermelon Facts watermelon.orgFor years people have debated whether watermelon is a fruit or a vegetable – we consider it both –here’s why . . .Watermelon is a FruitWatermelon is the fruit of a plant originally from a vine of southern Africa. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered atype of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind and a juicy, sweet, usually red interiorflesh. The species descriptor Citrullus vulgaris is sometimes, synonymously, used to refer to this plant (vulgarismeaning "common" — Shosteck, 1974).Like the pepper, tomato, and pumpkin, watermelon is botanically a fruit. According to Webster’s dictionary andWikipedia, a fruit is the riƿє-ṅєd ovary of a seed plant and its contents, and a watermelon is a large oblong roundish fruit (2004, 2006). Consumers use watermelon primarily as a fruit because of its sweet flavor and refreshing qualities.Watermelon is Also a VegetableAccording to Webster’s dictionary a vegetable is anything made or obtained from plants (2004). Watermelon is amember of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds (classified as Citrullus Lantus), related to the cucumber, squash,and pumpkin (Maynard, 2001). It is planted from seeds or seedlings, harvested, and then cleared from the field likeother vegetables. Since watermelon is grown as a vegetable crop using vegetable production systems, watermelon isconsidered a vegetable (Wolford, 2004).How Watermelon is used as a Fruit or a VegetableWatermelon is popularly used as a fruit, to be a sweet enhancer or fun accompaniment toour everyday meals. The watermelon is often cut into bite-sized squares or balled, or very often simply sliced and enjoyed. It’s also used in the types of recipes that are createdusing fruit.The whole watermelon is edible, even the rind. In places like China, the watermelonis stir-fried, stewed and often pickled. In this case, the watermelon is being usedas a vegetable. Pickled watermelon rind is also widespread in Russia. (Wikipedia 2006)Scientifically SpeakingThe scientific name of watermelon is Citrullus lanatus. It is a member of thecucurbitaceae family. Life; Embryophyta (plants); Angioꜱρєɾɱae (flowering plants);Order: Cucurbitales (pumpkin and melon family); Family: CucurbitaceaeThere are about 120 genera and 735 species of Cucurbitaceae worldwide, with 18genera and 76 species native to southern Africa. Some well known vegetables fall inthis family such as watermelon, hubbard squash, butternut, pumpkin, sweet melons andcucumber.All a Matter of PerspectiveDepending on how you want to classify it, a watermelon can be considered a fruit ora vegetable. No matter which way you slice it, watermelon is fun to eat and very goodfor you!Watermelon – Fruit or Vegetable?hope this helps you.... Show More

Watermelon is a fruit. The only fruit that thinks it’s a vegetable is the tomato.... Show More

Watermelon..is a fruit. No questions asked Lol.... Show More

that’s a fruit a super sack of ability which surrounds fruit. A melon grows on a vine and different than length and the thickness of the shell is called a g ɾąքҽ . you have merely run into the vagueness of the observe vegetable. All culmination are technically vegetables, yet besides the undeniable fact that so are all grains.... Show More

fruit. It has seeds. Then again most things that you think of as "vegetables" are fruit by the same definition. How do you think the plants reproduce?... Show More

Watermelon 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.... Show More

watermelon is a fruit... Show More

watermelon is a fruit... Show More

Fruit because it contains seeds. Like a peach, lemon, tomato….yes it’s a fruit and even squash. Anything that has internal seeds. Potatoes…no seeds…celery no seeds- both veggies.... Show More

A fruit, in that it contains it’s seeds.But it grows on a vine like squash & gourds.By this definition, a tomato is a fruit too.... Show More