Cucumis melo

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.

Did You Know?

• The melon is an annual, trailing herb that can be found as a weed around sites of recently built airports in American Samoa.
• Melons do not cross with watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, or squash, but varieties within the species intercross frequently.
• The snake melon, also called the Armenian cucumber, is a non-sweet melon found throughout Asia from Turkey to Japan.