Taxon:  Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.



Summary
Genus:
Citrullus
Family:
Cucurbitaceae
Tribe:
Benincaseae
Nomen number:
10674
Place of publication:
Linnaea 12:414.  1838
Verified:
05/10/1995 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
44 (23  active, 22  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Cucumis colocynthis L.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Colocynthis vulgaris Schrad.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  4. Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
  5. Burkill, H. M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. 1:570-572.
  6. Chomicki, G. & S. S. Renner. 2015. Watermelon origin solved with molecular phylogenetics including Linnaean material: another example of museonomics. New Phytol. 205:526-532. Note: it rejects Citrullus colocynthis "as a close relative, much less progenitor ... of the watermelon"
  7. CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
  8. Dane, F. & P. Lang. 2004. Sequence variation at cpDNA regions of watermelon and related wild species: implications for the evolution of Citrullus haplotypes. Amer. J. Bot. 91:1922-1929.
  9. Dane, F. et al. 2007. Phylogeography of the bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 54:327-336.
  10. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  11. Decker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:102.
  12. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  13. Duke, J. A. 1985. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  14. Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
  15. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  16. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  17. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  18. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  19. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  20. Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. 1993. Biosystematic monograph of the genus Cucumis (Cucurbitaceae) Note: mentions
  21. Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
  22. Levi, A. et al. 2002. A genetic linkage map for watermelon derived from a testcross population: (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides × C. lanatus var. lanatus. Theor. Appl. Genet. 105:555-563.
  23. Levi, A. et al. 2005. Analysis based on RAPD and ISSR markers reveals closer similarities among Citrullus and Cucumis species than with Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 52:465-472.
  24. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  25. Migahid, A. M. 1988-1990. Flora of Saudi Arabia, ed. 3.
  26. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  27. Navot, N. et al. 1990. Linkage relationships of genes affecting bitterness and flesh color in watermelon. J. Heredity 81:162-165. Note: this study examined plants derived from crosses between a cultivar of Citrullus lanatus × C. colocynthis and parents, and selfed pollinated plants derived from crosses between C. colocynthis × C. ecirrhosus
  28. Nesom, G. L. 2011. New state records for Citrullus, Cucumis, and Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae) outside of cultivation in the USA. Phytoneuron 2011-1:1-7. Note: naturalized in California
  29. Norton, J. et al. 2009. Illustrated checklist of the flora of Qatar.
  30. Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
  31. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  32. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  33. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  34. Reddy, U. K. et al. 2013. Cytomolecular characterization of rDNA distribution in various Citrullus species using fluorescent in situ hybridization. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 60:2091-2100.
  35. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  36. Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
  37. The Hebew University of Jerusalem. Flora of Israel Online (on-line resource).
  38. Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia.
  39. Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
  40. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
  41. Wickens, G. E. et al., eds. 1989. New crops for food and industry 147.
  42. Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
  43. Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishbitter-apple  1Duke, J. A. 1985. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Englishbitter-cucumber  1Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
Englishcolocynth  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishvine-of-Sodom  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishwild gourd  1Duke, J. A. 1985. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Arabichandhal  2Norton, J. et al. 2009. Illustrated checklist of the flora of Qatar.
Frenchcoloquinte  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanBitter-Melone  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2002. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 17. Auflage
GermanKoloquinte  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Indiatumba  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Portuguesecolocíntida  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishalhandal  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishcoloquíntida  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishkolokvint  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaEast Tropical AfricaKenya  Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
1NativeAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaChad  Dane, F. et al. 2007. Phylogeography of the bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 54:327-336.
1NativeAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaEthiopia  Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
1NativeAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaSomalia  Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia.
1NativeAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaYemenArkhabīl Suquţrá Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt  Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya  Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaWest Tropical AfricaMali  Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaKuwait  Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaSaudi Arabia  Migahid, A. M. 1988-1990. Flora of Saudi Arabia, ed. 3.
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaYemen  Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaAfghanistan  Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaCyprus  Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaEgyptSinai Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIraq  Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIsrael  Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaJordan  Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaSyria  Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey s.Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaAndhra Pradesh Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaAssam Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaBihar Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaDelhi Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaGoa Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaGujarat Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaKarnataka Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaMaharashtra Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaPunjab Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaRajasthan Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaTamil Nadu Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaUttar Pradesh Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentSri Lanka  Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndo-ChinaMyanmar  Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItalySicilia Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
2Cultivated    widely cult. in s.w. Asia and n. AfricaDane, F. & P. Lang. 2004. Sequence variation at cpDNA regions of watermelon and related wild species: implications for the evolution of Citrullus haplotypes. Amer. J. Bot. 91:1922-1929.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia  Dane, F. et al. 2007. Phylogeography of the bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 54:327-336.
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
  • NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Yemen [Arkhabīl Suquţrá]
  • EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Kenya
  • WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Mali
Asia-Temperate
  • ARABIAN PENINSULA: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen
  • WESTERN ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt [Sinai], Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey (s.)
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India [Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh], Sri Lanka, Pakistan
  • INDO-CHINA: Myanmar
Europe
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Greece, Italy [Sicilia]
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain
Cultivated (widely cult. in s.w. Asia and n. Africa)
Naturalized
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia

Reference(s)
  1. Dane, F. & P. Lang. 2004. Sequence variation at cpDNA regions of watermelon and related wild species: implications for the evolution of Citrullus haplotypes. Amer. J. Bot. 91:1922-1929.
  2. Dane, F. et al. 2007. Phylogeography of the bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 54:327-336.
  3. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  4. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  5. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  6. Keay, R. W. J. & F. N. Hepper. 1953-1972. Flora of west tropical Africa, ed. 2.
  7. Levi, A. et al. 2001. Genetic diversity among watermelon (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus colocynthis) accessions. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 48:559-566.
  8. Migahid, A. M. 1988-1990. Flora of Saudi Arabia, ed. 3.
  9. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  10. Renner, S. S. & A. K. Pandey. 2013. The Cucurbitaceae of India: accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences. PhytoKeys 20:62.
  11. Thulin, M., ed. 1993-. Flora of Somalia.
  12. Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
  13. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
  14. Wood, J. R. I. 1997. A handbook of the Yemen flora.
  15. Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966-. Flora palaestina.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Medicinesfolklore Wickens, G. E. et al., eds. 1989. New crops for food and industry 147.
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinesfolklore Decker-Walters, D. S. 1999. Cucurbit, Sanskrit, and the Indo-Aryas. Econ. Bot. 53:102.
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Burkill, H. M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. 1:570-572.
Weed  CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. Documenta CIBA-GEIGY (Grass weeds 1. 1980, 2. 1981; Monocot weeds 3. 1982; Dicot weeds 1. 1988) Note: four books on weeds worldwide in scope
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=10674. Accessed 28 April 2026.