Melon
Family Cucurbitaceae
Cucumis melo, the melon (C. melo 1), is a variable, usually monoecious, trailing and softly hairy annual with large 5-7 lobed leaves and ridged stems. The large flowers are yellow, with 5 petals and 5 sepals; male ones with 3 stamens and in clusters, the female ones solitary and with a pistil with 3-5 stigmas. Bisexual flowers do occur in some varieties. Fruits (C. melo 2) are very variable in size, shape, rind and colour, many seeded.
Distribution
It is likely that the melon originated in Africa, and it seems to have reached Europe before the Middle Ages. Today the melon has a worldwide distribution.
Use
The fresh flesh is eaten as a dessert fruit after removal of the seeds.
As hybridisation easily occurs, botanical classification of the many types makes little sense. In practice 4 broadly defined groups are recognised, based on the characteristics of the fruits. These groups are:
1. Wintermelon (C. melo 3), with large fruits, usually with smooth rind, striped or splashed. The flesh is firm, but with little flavour. This type has good keeping qualities.
2. Musk melon, (C. melo 4), with smaller fruits and rinds finely netted. The flesh is yellowish or green and very tasteful.
3. Cantaloupe melon (C. melo 5), with a thick rough skin, often deeply grooved. The orange flesh is very aromatic.
4. Ogen melon (C. melo 6), is a relatively small yellow-ribbed melon with green aromatic flesh. This type originated in Israel.
A number of different varieties is grown in Asia (C. melo 7). The biggest producers are China, the US and Spain.