Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), succulent fruit and vine-like plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). The fruit contains vitamin A and some vitamin C and is usually eaten raw. The sweet juicy flesh may be reddish, white, or yellow; flesh color, shape of the fruit, and thickness of the rind depend on the variety. It is a warm season crop mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions. A well drained loamy soil is preferred. Light soils that warm quickly in spring are usually used for early maturity.