Cucumis melo

Muskmelon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Cucumis
Species:	C. melo
Binomial name
	Cucumis melo; L.

Muskmelon (Cucumis melo) is a species of melon that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. These include smooth skinned varieties such as honeydew, crenshaw and casaba, and different netted cultivars (cantaloupe, Persian melon and Santa Claus or Christmas melon). The Armenian cucumber is also a variety of muskmelon, but its shape, taste, and culinary uses more closely resemble those of a cucumber. The large number of cultivars in this species approaches that found in wild cabbage, though morphological variation is not as extensive. It is a fruit of a type that botanists call a pepo. Muskmelon is native to Persia (Iran), Armenia, and adjacent areas on the west and the east. Persia and the trans-Caucasus are believed to be the main center of origin and development, with a secondary center including Pakistan and the northwest provinces of India and Afghanistan . Although truly wild forms of C. melo have not been found, several related wild species have been noted in those regions.

Nutrition

Cantaloupe melons are a good source of potassium, Vitamin A, and folate.^[1]

Uses

In addition to their consumption when fresh, melons are sometimes dried. Other varieties are cooked, or grown for their seeds, which are processed to produce melon oil. Still other varieties are grown only for their pleasant fragrance.^[2] The Japanese liqueur Midori is flavored with muskmelon.

Gallery

Galia Melon
Japanese melon intended as a high-priced gift. Pictured one is 6300 yen including tax (over 70 US dollars).
Chamoe (참외, Cucumis melo var. makuwa) stall in Seoul, South Korea
Squared Melon grown in Atsumi District, Aichi Japan. It is known as "Kakumero".
The Armenian cucumber, despite the name, is actually a type of muskmelon.

References

Notes

^ Nutrition Facts for melons, cantaloupe
^ National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Melon". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2008-07-17. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)

Sources

Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-34060-8.
Magness, J.R., G.M. Markle, C.C. Compton. 1971. Food and feed crops of the United States. Interregional Research Project IR-4, IR Bul. 1 (Bul. 828 New Jersey Agr. Expt. Sta.).
Desai, B.B. (2004). Seeds Handbook: Biology, Production, Processing, and Storage, Vol. 103. CRC Press. ISBN 082474800X.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/vegetabletravelers/muskmelon.html

External links

Cucumis melo L. – Purdue University, Center for New Crops & Plant Products.
Sorting Cucumis names – Multilingual multiscript plant name database
Cook's Thesaurus: Melons – A great online list of names and pictures.
[1] Muskmelons Originated in Persia

[cantaloupeND-1] Nutrition Facts for melons, cantaloupe

[2] National Research Council (2008-01-25). "Melon". Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Lost Crops of Africa. Vol. 3. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5. Retrieved 2008-07-17. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)

[1]

[2]