Watermelon - Watermelon

Japanese: スイカ(西瓜) - スイカ

A creeping annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family native to tropical Africa. It has been cultivated since ancient Egypt for its edible seeds, and was introduced to Japan in the 16th and 17th centuries via China. The current watermelons grown for their flesh were imported from the United States in the early Meiji period. The plant is covered with white hairs, its vines are 5-6m long, and it has pinnately lobed leaves. In summer, yellow unisexual flowers bloom in the leaf axils. The fruits are large and spherical to elliptical, with a variety of skin patterns and colors. There are over 150 varieties, ranging from the small Icebox with yellow flesh, Kinrei with yellow skin and flesh, and the large Midorifuken with dark green skin and bright red flesh, to the current major varieties Tenryu No. 2, Shimao Max, and Nissho Red. In recent years, small watermelons weighing 1.5-2kg have become increasingly popular. The main producing prefectures are Kumamoto and Chiba. The fruit is eaten raw, the juice is used as juice and for medicinal purposes, and the seeds are used as an appetizer in Chinese cuisine.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

熱帯アフリカ原産のウリ科のつる性一年草。古代エジプト時代から種子を食用とするために栽培され，日本へは16―17世紀に中国経由で渡来した。現在の果肉用のものは明治初年に米国から移入。全体に白毛があり，つるは長さ５〜6m，羽状に裂けた葉をつける。夏，葉腋(ようえき)に黄色の単性花を開く。果実は球〜楕円形で大きく，皮の模様や色はさまざま。小型で果肉の黄色いアイスボックス，果皮も果肉もともに黄色い金鈴，大型で果皮は濃緑で果肉が鮮紅色の緑富研(みどりふけん)などから，現在の主要品種である天竜２号，縞王マックス，日章レッドなど品種は150以上。近年，果重1.5〜2kgの小玉スイカの人気が高まっている。主産県は熊本，千葉など。果実を生食するほか，果汁をジュース，薬用とし，種子を中国料理の前菜とする。

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