Colocynth

Citrullus colocynthis is a wild watermelon. It belongs to a group of species that is related to the cultivated watermelon. Here u can see one plant with dry fruits, after the fruits are detached form the stem they are driven by floods, break and disperse their seeds.

Citrullus colocynthis is a common wild water melon, found in sandy deserts of N Africa, the Middle East eastwards to India. Here u can see a flower and a yound fruit.

This is one of the progenitors of the edible watermelon, surprisingly it is a small bitter fruit in nature. It grows in the desert and later the dried-hollow fruits are dispersed by wind and water.

This plant is a wild watermelon, related to the cultivated one. It is common in the Arabian deserts anbd southwards to Africa. In nature the watermelons are rather small, reaching a diameter of 7-10 cm. After ripe the round fruit dries out and rolls with the winds and winter water along the washes, breaks and dispers the seeds.

This plant is a wild watermelon, related to the cultivated one. It is common in the Arabian deserts anbd southwards to Africa. In nature the watermelons are rather small, reaching a diameter of 7-10 cm. After ripe the round fruit dries out and rolls with the winds and winter water along the washes, breaks and dispers the seeds.

This time a young wild watermelon. It is related to the cultivated one. It is common in the Arabian deserts anbd southwards to Africa. In nature the watermelons are rather small, reaching a diameter of 7-10 cm. After ripe the round fruit dries out and rolls with the winds and winter water along the washes, breaks and dispers the seeds.

Citrullus colocynthis 1Location: Wadi Gimal-Hamata 2003

Citrullus colocynthis 2Location: Wadi Gimal-Hamata 2003

Citrullus colocynthis 3Location: Wadi Gimal-Hamata 2003

Sahara, Djanet, Algeriet (Algeria)

Sahara, Djanet, Algeriet (Algeria)

Sahara, Djanet, Algeriet (Algeria)