This perennial herb species grows in both gravel plains, wadis and in sand dunes, in addition to disturbed ground (El Alqamy 2004, Jongbloed et al. 2003, Karim and Dakheel 2006, Mahmoud et al. 2018). It can grow up to 150 cm in height, has triangular alternating leaves and yellow flowers which are present between November and April (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The fruit is green with yellow stripes and turns completely yellow when mature (Jongbloed et al. 2003). This plant also provides a food source for rodents in the desert (Jongbloed et al. 2003). It is a crop wild relative of the water melon, Citrullus lanatus (Kameswara Rao 2013).