Melon

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Type of fruit

title: "Melon" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["melons", "cucurbitaceae", "fruits-originating-in-africa"] description: "Type of fruit" topic_path: "general/melons" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melon" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Type of fruit ::

::callout[type=note] melon in a broad sense ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Cantaloupe_and_canary_melon.jpg" caption="[[Canary melon]] and [[cantaloupe"] ::

A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. It can also specifically refer to Cucumis melo, commonly known as the "true melon" or simply "melon". The term "melon" can apply to both the plant and its fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The word melon derives from Latin melopepo, which is the latinization of the Greek μηλοπέπων (mēlopepōn), meaning "melon", itself a compound of μῆλον (mēlon), "apple", treefruit (of any kind)" and πέπων (pepōn), amongst others "a kind of gourd or melon". Many different cultivars have been produced, particularly of the true melon, such as the cantaloupe and honeydew.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Watermelon_and_melon_in_India.jpg" caption="Watermelon and melon in India"] ::

Melons were thought to have originated in Africa. However, recent studies suggest a Southwest Asian origin, especially Iran and India; from there, they gradually began to appear in Europe toward the end of the Western Roman Empire. Melons are known to have been grown by the ancient Egyptians. However, recent discoveries of melon seeds dated between 1350 and 1120 BCE in Nuragic sacred wells have shown that melons were first brought to Europe by the Nuragic civilization of Sardinia during the Bronze Age. Melons were among the earliest plants to be domesticated in the Old World and among the first crop species brought by westerners to the New World.{{cite journal | journal=Plant Breeding Review | volume=35 | editor=Jules Janick | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foHdS6xeht8C&q=melons%20domesticated&pg=PP1 | title=Melon Landraces of India: Contributions and Importance | publisher=John Wiley & Sons | year=2012 | isbn=978-1118100486 | last1=Dhillon | first1=Narinder P.S. | last2=Monforte | first2=Antonio J. | last3=Pitrat | first3=Michel | last4=Pandey | first4=Sudhakar | last5=Singh | first5=Praveen Kumar | last6=Reitsma | first6=Kathleen R. | last7=Garcia-Mas | first7=Jordi | last8=Sharma | first8=Abhishek | last9=McCreight | first9=James D. | page=88 | access-date=2014-10-20 |title = Growing Melons |url = http://byf.unl.edu/Melon |publisher = University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension |access-date = 2011-11-04 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120403223315/http://byf.unl.edu/Melon |archive-date = 2012-04-03 | url=http://www.abqjournal.com/food/2491846256food09-24-08.htm |url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102021047/http://www.abqjournal.com/food/2491846256food09-24-08.htm | newspaper=Albuquerque Journal | date=September 24, 2008 | archive-date=November 2, 2013 | title=San Felipe Pueblo melon farmer favors the old ways | first=Denise |last=Miller | access-date=October 20, 2014

Melons by genus

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Cucumis_metuliferus_fruit_-_whole_and_cross_section.jpg" caption="Horned melon"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Cantaloupe_Melon_cross_section.png" caption="Honeydew"] ::

''Benincasa''

  • Winter melonNot to be confused with Cucumis melo inodorus varieties, also collectively called winter melon. (B. hispida) is the only member of the genus Benincasa. The mature winter melon is a cooking vegetable that is widely used in Asia, especially in India. The immature melons are used as a culinary fruit (e.g., to make a distinctive fruit drink).

''Citrullus''

Main article: Citrullus

  • Citron melon (C. amarus) closely resembles the watermelon, but has harder, whiter flesh. It is often cooked or preserved rather than being eaten raw. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Colocynth (C. colocynthis) is a wild melon, similar in appearance to the watermelon. The flesh is inedible, but the seeds are a valuable food source in Africa.{{cite web | title=Seeds, seeds, seeds: Egusi, the Miracle Melon | publisher=Nourishing the Planet | author1=Danielle Nierenberg | author1-link=Danielle Nierenberg | author2=Elena Davert | url=http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/seeds-seeds-seeds-egusi-the-miracle-melon/ | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006175830/http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/seeds-seeds-seeds-egusi-the-miracle-melon/ | archive-date=October 6, 2010 | date=September 20, 2010 | title=Importance and practices of Egusi crops (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin and Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. cv. ' Aklamkpa ') in sociolinguistic areas in Benin | url=http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v12n4/393.pdf | author1=Enoch Gbenato Achigan-Dako | author2=Rose Fagbemissi | author3=Hermane Tonankpon Avohou | author4=Raymond Sognon Vodouhe | author5=Ousmane Coulibaly | author6=Adam Ahanchede | journal=Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ. | year=2008 | volume=12 | issue=4 | pages=393–40 | access-date=2014-10-20 | archive-date=2015-05-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507194743/http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v12n4/393.pdf | url-status=live
  • Watermelon (C. lanatus) originated in Africa, where evidence indicates that it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years. It is a popular summer fruit in all parts of the world.{{cite book | chapter=Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai | publisher=FAO | title=Grassland Species Profiles

''Cucumis''

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Painted_green_melons._Chennai,_India,_2010.jpg" caption="Painted green melons. [[Chennai]], India, 2010"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Melonjf7319.JPG" caption="Slice of cantaloupe melon"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Cucumis_melo_inodorus_argos.jpg" caption="Argos melon"] ::

Melons in genus Cucumis are culinary fruits, and include the majority of culinary melons. All but a handful of culinary melon varieties belong to the species Cucumis melo L.

  • Horned melon (C. metuliferus), a traditional food plant in Africa with distinctive spikes. Now grown in California, Chile, Australia and New Zealand as well.{{cite book | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6jrlyOPfr24C&q=momordica%20charantia%20culinary&pg=PA385 | page=248 | chapter=Momordica | title=Plant Resources of Tropical Africa: Vegetables |editor1=G.J.H. Grubben |editor2=O.H. Denton | author1=G.N. Njorogo | author2=M.N. van Luijk | publisher=PROTA Foundation | year=2004 | isbn=90-5782-147-8 | location=Wageningen, Netherlands | access-date=2014-10-20
  • True melon (C. melo)
    • C. melo cantalupensis, with skin that is rough and warty, not netted.
      • The European cantaloupe, with lightly ribbed, pale green skin, was domesticated in the 18th century, in Cantalupo in Sabina, Italy, by the pope's gardener. It is also known as a 'rockmelon' in Australia and New Zealand. Varieties include the French Charentais and the Burpee Seeds hybrid Netted Gem, introduced in the 19th century.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xwq1lunLkuoC&q=%22melo%20cantalupensis%22&pg=PA255 | page=255 | title=Cooking with the Bible: biblical food, feasts, and lore |author1=Anthony F. Chiffolo |author2=Rayner W. Hesse | publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group | year=2006 | isbn=0-313-33410-2 | access-date=2014-10-20
      • The Persian melon resemble a large cantaloupe with a darker green rind and a finer netting.{{cite book | title=Passion of a Foodie - An International Kitchen Companion | author=Heidemarie Vos | publisher=Strategic Book Publishing | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-934925-63-8 | page=348 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=spY3ct9PBxEC&q=%22persian%20melon%22%20netting&pg=PA348 | access-date=2014-10-20
    • C. melo inodorus, casabas, honeydew, and Asian melons
      • Argos, a large, oblong, with orange wrinkled skin, orange flesh, strong aroma. A characteristic is its pointed ends. Growing in some areas of Greece, from which it gets its name.
      • Banana melon, an heirloom variety with salmon-colored flesh and an elongated banana shape and yellow rind
      • Canary melon, a large, bright-yellow melon with a pale green to white inner flesh.
      • Casaba, bright yellow, with a smooth, furrowed skin. Less flavorful than other melons, but keeps longer.{{cite web | publisher=WiseGeek | title=What is a casaba melon? | url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-casaba-melon.htm | access-date=2014-10-20 | archive-date=2014-07-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722192652/http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-casaba-melon.htm | url-status=live
      • Crenshaw melon, a hybrid between a Casaba melon and a Persian melon that is described to have a very sweet flavor
      • Gaya melon, originally from Japan, a honeydew cultivar that is ivory in color and has a mild, sweet flavor
      • Hami melon, originally from Hami, Xinjiang, China. Flesh is sweet and crisp.{{cite news | newspaper=China Daily | title=Xinjiang Hami Melon | series=LibraryChina ABCGeographyLocal Products | url=http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/08/content_22024.htm | access-date=2014-10-20 | archive-date=2013-11-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101162139/http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/08/content_22024.htm | url-status=dead
      • Honeydew, with a sweet, juicy, green-colored flesh. Grown as bailan melon in Lanzhou, China. There is a second variety which has yellow skin, white flesh and tastes like a moist pear.
      • Honeymoon melon, a variety of honeydew with golden rind and bright green flesh and a sweet flavor
      • Kajari melon, a sweet honeydew cultivar that is red-orange in color with green stripes reminiscent of a beach ball
      • Kolkhoznitsa melon, with smooth, yellow skin and dense, white flesh.{{cite news | newspaper=The Moscow Times | url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2007/9/article/likbez-melon-season/194219.html | date=September 21, 2007 | title=Moscow flooded with melons | access-date=2014-10-20 | archive-date=2015-05-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510185404/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/2007/9/article/likbez-melon-season/194219.html | url-status=live
      • Japanese melons (including the Sprite melon).
      • Korean melon, a yellow melon with white lines running across the fruit and white inside. Can be crisp and slightly sweet or juicy when left to ripen longer.
      • Mirza melon, a large, cream-colored melon native to Central Asia with a sweet, savory flavor
      • Oriental pickling melon
      • Pixie melon, a sweet, palm-sized cantaloupe cultivar with a strange, cracked-looking netting
      • Piel de Sapo () or Santa Claus melon, a melon with a blotchy green skin and white sweet-tasting flesh.
      • Sugar melon, a smooth, white, round fruit.{{cite book | title=The Complete Book of Fruit: an illustrated guide to over 400 species and varieties of fruit from all over the world | author=Jac G. Constant | publisher=Admiral | year=1986 | isbn=1-85171-049-3 | page=35
      • Tiger melon, an orange, yellow and black striped melon from Turkey with a soft pulp.{{cite book | title=A Gourmet's Guide to Fruit | first1=Judy|last1=Bastyra |first2=Julia|last2=Canning | publisher=HP Books | year=1990 | isbn=0-89586-849-0 | page=64 | url=https://archive.org/details/gourmetsguidetof0000bast/page/64
    • C. melo reticulatus, true muskmelons, with netted (reticulated) skin.
      • North American cantaloupe, distinct from the European cantaloupe, with the net-like skin pattern common to other C. melo reticulatus varieties.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JdLYGMOIndkC&q=reticulatus%20%22north%20american%20melon%22&pg=PA116 | page=116 | title=The Joy of Jams, Jellies and Other Sweet Preserves: 200 Classic and Contemporary Recipes Showcasing the Fabulous Flavors of Fresh Fruits | author=Linda Ziedrich | publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-4587-6483-6 | access-date=2014-10-20 | edition=Easyread Large
      • Galia (or Ogen), small and very juicy with either faint green or rosy pink flesh.
      • Sharlyn melons, with taste between honeydew and cantaloupes, netted skin, greenish-orange rind, and white flesh.{{cite web | url=http://www.foodreference.com/html/artmelon.html | publisher=Food Reference | title=Melons | author=James Ehler | access-date=2014-10-20 | archive-date=2014-08-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805155746/http://www.foodreference.com/html/artmelon.html | url-status=live
    • C. melo agrestis, Wilder melon cultivars, with smooth skin, and tart or bland taste. Often confused with cucumbers (Dosakai, Lemon Cucumber, Pie Melons).
    • C. melo conomon, Conomon Melons, Pickling Melons, with smooth skin, and ranging from tart or bland taste (pickling melon) to mild sweetness in Korean Melon.Oriental Pickling melon, Korean Melon. Closely related to wilder melons (C Melo Var Agrestis).
    • Modern crossbred varieties, e.g. Crenshaw (Casaba × Persian), Crane (Japanese × N.A. cantaloupe).

Gallery

File:Melon Sugar Baby Matisse-9953.jpg|Melon Sugar Baby Matisse File:Cucumis melo on white background.jpg|Cucumis melo File:Cantaloupe and canary melon.jpg|Canary melon and Cantaloupe File:Honeydew melon yellow flower.jpg|Honeydew melon yellow flower

Production

::data[format=table title="Melon production, 2020"] | Country | Production (millions of tonnes) | |---|---| | China | | | Turkey | | | India | | | Iran | | | Afghanistan | | | United States | | | Guatemala | | | Brazil | | | World | | | Source: FAOSTAT of the United Nations | | ::

In 2018, world production of melons was 27 million tonnes, led by China with 46% of the total (table). Turkey, Iran, and India each produced more than 1 million tonnes.

Notes

References

General references

  • {{cite book | author=Mabberley, D.J. | year=1987 | title=The Plant Book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants | publisher=Cambridge University Press | page= 706 | isbn=0-521-34060-8 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVdoUPtqKCIC | access-date=2014-10-20
  • {{cite journal | last1=Magness|first1=J.R.|last2=Markle|first2=G.M.|last3=Compton|first3=C.C. | year=1971 | title=Food and feed crops of the United States | publisher=New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | journal=IR Bulletin | volume=1 | issue=828 | ol=14117370M

References

  1. {{OEtymD. melon
  2. {{L&S. melopepo. ref
  3. {{LSJ. mhlope/pwn. μηλοπέπων. ref.
  4. {{LSJ. μῆλον. shortref.
  5. {{LSJ. pe/pwn. πέπων. shortref.
  6. (2009). "The new Oxford book of food plants". Oxford University Press.
  7. (2014-01-01). "Genetic diversity among melon accessions from Iran and their relationships with melon germplasm of diverse origins using microsatellite markers". Plant Systematics and Evolution.
  8. (2012-04-03). "Growing Melons".
  9. (16 May 2017). "Archaeobotanical analysis of a Bronze Age well from Sardinia: A wealth of knowledge". Plant Biosystems.
  10. (2012). "Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Domesticated Plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin". Oxford: University Press.
  11. Swamy, K. R. M.. (2018-08-29). "Origin, distribution and systematics of culinary cucumber (Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis var. conomon)". Journal of Horticultural Sciences.
  12. Lim, T. K.. (2012). "Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants". Springer Netherlands.
  13. (2019). "Production of melons in 2018; Crops/Regions/World list/Production Quantity (pick lists)". [[UN Food and Agriculture Organization]], Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT).

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