Xi Gua

Citrullus lanatus is a trailing or climbing annual vine in the Cucurbitaceae family, native to Africa and widely cultivated in warm regions worldwide. The stems are hairy, branched, and bear tendrils that allow the plant to climb or sprawl across the ground. Leaves are deeply pinnately lobed, grey-green, and roughly hairy, measuring 5-20 cm long. The plant produces monoecious yellow flowers approximately 3 cm across. The fruit is a large pepo with a smooth green rind, often striped or mottled, and juicy red, pink, or yellow flesh containing numerous flat, oval seeds that may be black, brown, or white. In TCM, the fruit (Xi Gua) is regarded as cooling, and the rind and seeds are also used medicinally.