Tag: Colocynth

While most people associate the name *Citrullus* with the sweet, red fruit of the watermelon, the genus includes several other species, some of which are bitter and highly toxic. The edibility of a *Citrullus* plant depends entirely on the specific species, with some being cultivated for food and others containing dangerous compounds called cucurbitacins.

Reportedly banned by the US FDA in 1991 due to extreme toxicity, the fruit pulp of the desert gourd, *Citrullus colocynthis*, is extremely dangerous and should never be eaten. However, the seeds have a long history of traditional use as a food source when correctly processed.