Cucumis melo
A species of Cucumis with diverse cultivated varieties.
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Cucumis melo, known as melon or true melon, is a species of Cucumis that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo, with flesh that can be sweet or bland, with or without aroma, and rinds that may be smooth, ribbed, wrinkled, or netted. The species is sometimes referred to as muskmelon, though usage of that term varies. The origin of melons is not known; research has revealed that seeds and rootstocks were traded along caravan routes of the Ancient World, and botanists disagree on whether they are native to the Levant and Egypt, Iran, India, Central Asia, or Africa.
Scientific classification
- CladeTracheophytes
- CladeAngiosperms
- CladeEudicots
- CladeRosids
- OrderCucurbitales
- FamilyCucurbitaceae
- GenusCucumis
- SpeciesCucumis melo
Named by L.
Close relatives
Other species of Cucumis with a Codexery entry.
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Cucumis metuliferus Cucumis metuliferus
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Cucumis melo (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where the cucumis melo has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (20,985 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 489 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 1 isolated far-off record not drawn.
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Quick Facts
- Species
- melo
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The melon is an annual, trailing herb that grows well in subtropical or warm, temperate climates. It can be found as a weed around sites of recently built airports in American Samoa. Melons prefer warm, well-fertilized soil with good drainage that is rich in nutrients, but are vulnerable to downy mildew and anthracnose. Disease risk is reduced by crop rotation with non-cucurbit crops.
Cross pollination has resulted in some varieties developing resistance to powdery mildew. Arthropod pest species attracted to melons include the cucumber beetle, Aphis gossypii, melonworm moth, and the pickleworm. Melons are monoecious or andromonoecious plants.
They do not cross with watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, or squash, but varieties within the species intercross frequently. Some authors treat C. melo as having two subspecies, C. melo agrestis and C. melo melo. Variants within these subspecies include C. melo var. acidulus (Mangalore melon), adana, agrestis (wild melon), ameri (summer melon), cantalupensis (cantaloupe), reticulatus (muskmelon), chandalak, chate, chito, conomon (Oriental pickling melon), dudaim (pocket melon), flexuosus (snake melon), inodorus (winter melon), momordica (snap melon), tibish, chinensis, and makuwa (Oriental melon). Not all varieties are sweet melons; the snake melon is non-sweet and similar to a cucumber in taste and appearance.
Reader's Guide
Cucumis melo holds significance as a widely cultivated species with a vast array of varieties adapted to different climates and uses. Its history is ancient, with debate among scholars whether the abattiach in the Book of Numbers 11:5 refers to a melon or a watermelon. Both types were known in Ancient Egypt and other settled areas.
Melon was domesticated in West Asia, and over time many cultivars developed with variety in shape and sweetness. Iran, India, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and China became centers for melon production. Melons were consumed in Ancient Greece and Rome.
The Japanese liqueur Midori is flavored with melon. In Tonga, it was once frequently cultivated as a snack and its flowers used for leis, but has since been extirpated. For commercially grown varieties, features like protective hard netting and firm flesh are preferred for shipping and other requirements of commercial markets.
Also in the Codexery
More in Edible Fruits & Vegetables
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Cucumis melo (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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