Another striking thing about the Stanchi watermelons has little to do with domestication, though, writes Christopher Jobson for This is Colossal. The placenta appears divided and swirls around the seeds. That’s a phenomenon called “starring,” and it’s a product of unfriendly growing conditions in which the plant has less access to pollen.Still, Edwards notes, Stanchi’s watermelons are a reminder that looking at art from hundreds of years ago can reveal a lot about humans have molded wild plants into modern crops. In their mere difference from the watermelons available in modern-day grocery stores, the fruit points to centuries of careful breeding — and a past in which fruit looked much different from today.
Just proof that “heritege” varieties are not always better.
Quite interesting. Thanks for posting this.