Editing Melon

{{Short description|Type of fruit}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{About|melon in a broad sense|melon in a narrow sense|Cucumis melo|other uses|Melon (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Cantaloupe and canary melon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[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 [[botanical berry|berry]], specifically a "[[pepo (botany)|pepo]]". The word ''melon'' derives from [[Latin]] ''{{lang|la|melopepo}}'',<ref>{{OEtymD|melon}}</ref><ref>{{L&S|melopepo|ref}}</ref> which is the [[Latinisation (literature)|latinization]] of the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{lang|grc|μηλοπέπων}} (''mēlopepōn''), meaning "melon",<ref name="lsj">{{LSJ|mhlope/pwn|μηλοπέπων|ref}}.</ref> itself a compound of {{lang|grc|μῆλον}} (''mēlon''), "apple", treefruit (''of any kind'')"<ref>{{LSJ|mh{{=}}lon2|μῆλον|shortref}}.</ref> and {{lang|grc|πέπων}} (''pepōn''), amongst others "a kind of gourd or melon".<ref>{{LSJ|pe/pwn|πέπων|shortref}}.</ref> Many different [[cultivars]] have been produced, particularly of the true melon, such as the [[cantaloupe]] and [[Honeydew (melon)|honeydew]].

==History==
[[File:Watermelon and melon in India.jpg|thumb|right|Watermelon and melon in India]]

Melons were thought to have originated in Africa.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The new Oxford book of food plants|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-19-954946-7|pages=134}}</ref> However, recent studies suggest a [[Southwest Asia]]n origin, especially [[Iran]] and [[India]];<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Raghami|first1=Mahmoud|last2=López-Sesé|first2=Ana Isabel|last3=Hasandokht|first3=Mohamad Reza|last4=Zamani|first4=Zabihollah|last5=Moghadam|first5=Mahmoud Reza Fattahi|last6=Kashi|first6=Abdolkarim|date=2014-01-01|title=Genetic diversity among melon accessions from Iran and their relationships with melon germplasm of diverse origins using microsatellite markers|journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution|language=en|volume=300|issue=1|pages=139–151|doi=10.1007/s00606-013-0866-y|issn=1615-6110|quote=Melons or muskmelon are native to Iran and adjacent countries toward the west and east. In fact, ‘Musk’ is a Persian word for a kind of perfume and ‘melon’ is derived from Greek words (Robinson and Decker-Walters 1997). The origin of diversity for melon was traditionally believed to be in Africa (Robinson and Decker-Walters 1997), although recent molecular systematic studies, suggested that it may be originated from Asia and then reached to Africa (Renner et al. 2007). Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, Transcaucasia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan and China (Robinson and Decker-Walters 1997) are considered primary diversity centre for melon (Tzitzikas et al. 2009).Two formal infraspecific taxa within C. melo were recognized by Kirkbri|doi-access=free|bibcode=2014PSyEv.300..139R }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://byf.unl.edu/Melon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403223315/http://byf.unl.edu/Melon|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-03|title=Growing Melons|date=2012-04-03|access-date=2019-05-25|quote=Melons are believed to have originated in the hot valleys of southwest Asia—specifically Iran (Persia) and India.}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201500186050|title=Archaeobotanical analysis of a Bronze Age well from Sardinia: A wealth of knowledge|first1=Sabato|last1=D.|first2=Masi|last2=A.|first3=Pepe|last3=C.|first4=Ucchesu|last4=M.|first5=Peña-Chocarro|last5=L.|first6=Usai|last6=A.|first7=Giachi|last7=G.|first8=Capretti|last8=C.|first9=Bacchetta|last9=G.|date=16 May 2017|journal=Plant Biosystems|access-date=1 November 2015|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011633/http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=US201500186050|url-status=live}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{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
 }}</ref> Early European settlers in the New World are recorded as growing [[honeydew (melon)|honeydew]] and casaba melons as early as the 1600s.<ref name="unl">{{cite web
 |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
}}</ref> A number of Native American tribes in New Mexico, including Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Navajo, Santo Domingo and San Felipe, maintain a tradition of growing their own characteristic melon cultivars, derived from melons originally introduced by the Spanish. Organizations like [[Native Seeds/SEARCH]] have made an effort to collect and preserve these and other heritage seeds.<ref>{{cite news
 | 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
}}</ref>

==Melons by genus==
[[File:Cucumis metuliferus fruit - whole and cross section.jpg|thumb|Horned melon]]
[[File:Cantaloupe Melon cross section.png|thumb|upright|Honeydew]]

===''Benincasa''===
* [[Winter melon]]<ref group="note">Not to be confused with ''Cucumis melo inodorus'' varieties, also collectively called ''winter melon''.</ref> (''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|Citrullus}}
* [[Egusi]] (''C. lanatus'') is a wild melon, similar in appearance to the watermelon. The flesh is inedible, but the seeds are a valuable food source in [[Africa]].<ref>{{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
}}</ref> Other species that have the same culinary role, and that are also called egusi include ''[[Melothria sphaerocarpa]]'' (syn. ''Cucumeropsis mannii'') and ''[[Lagenaria siceraria]]''.<ref>{{cite journal
 | 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
 }}</ref>
* [[Watermelon]] (''C. lanatus'') originated in Africa, where evidence indicates that it has been cultivated for over 4,000 years.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Daniel |last1=Zohary |first2= Maria |last2=Hopf |first3= Ehud |last3=Weiss|title=Domestication of Plants in the Old World: The Origin and Spread of Domesticated Plants in Southwest Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean Basin |isbn=9780199549061 |edition= Fourth |publisher=Oxford: University Press |year=2012 |page=193}}</ref> It is a popular summer fruit in all parts of the world.<ref>{{cite book
 | chapter=Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai
 | publisher=[[FAO]]
 | title=Grassland Species Profiles
 }}</ref>

===''Cucumis''===
[[File:Painted green melons. Chennai, India, 2010.jpg|thumb|Painted green melons. [[Chennai]], India, 2010]]
[[File:Melonjf7319.JPG|thumb|Slice of cantaloupe melon]]
[[File:Cucumis melo inodorus argos.jpg|thumb|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.<ref name="prota">{{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
}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{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
}}</ref> The [[Yubari King]] is a highly prized Japanese cantaloupe [[cultivar]].
*** The [[Persian melon]] resemble a large cantaloupe with a darker green [[Peel (fruit)|rind]] and a finer netting.<ref name="vos">{{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
}}</ref>
** ''C. melo inodorus'', casabas, honeydew, and Asian melons
*** [[Argos, Peloponnese#Economy|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.<ref>{{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
 }}</ref>
*** [[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 Prefecture|Hami]], [[Xinjiang]], China. Flesh is sweet and crisp.<ref>{{cite news
 | newspaper=China Daily
 | title=Xinjiang Hami Melon
 | series=Library>China ABC>Geography>Local 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
 }}</ref>
*** [[honeydew (melon)|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.<ref>{{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
 }}</ref>
*** 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
*** {{lang|es|Piel de Sapo}} ({{gloss|toad skin}}) or [[Santa Claus melon]], a melon with a blotchy green skin and white sweet-tasting flesh.
*** [[Sugar melon]], a smooth, white, round fruit.<ref>{{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
 }}</ref>
*** Tiger melon, an orange, yellow and black striped melon from [[Turkey]] with a soft pulp.<ref>{{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=[https://archive.org/details/gourmetsguidetof0000bast/page/64 64]
 | url=https://archive.org/details/gourmetsguidetof0000bast/page/64
 }}</ref>
** ''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.<ref>{{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
 }}</ref>
*** [[Galia melon|Galia]] (or Ogen), small and very juicy with either faint green or rosy pink flesh.<ref name="vos" />
*** Sharlyn melons, with taste between honeydew and cantaloupes, netted skin, greenish-orange rind, and white flesh.<ref>{{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
 }}{{self-published source|date=November 2011}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=November 2011}}
** ''C. melo agrestis'', Wilder melon cultivars, with smooth skin, and tart or bland taste. Often confused with [[cucumber]]s (Dosakai, Lemon Cucumber, Pie Melons).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Swamy|first=K. R. M.|date=2018-08-29|title=Origin, distribution and systematics of culinary cucumber (Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis var. conomon)|journal=Journal of Horticultural Sciences|language=en|volume=12|issue=1|pages=1–22|doi=10.24154/jhs.v12i1.64 |issn=0973-354X|doi-access=free}}</ref>
** ''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).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lim|first=T. K.|chapter=Cucumis melo (Conomon Group)|date=2012|work=Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits|pages=204–209|editor-last=Lim|editor-first=T. K.|publisher=Springer Netherlands|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_32|isbn=9789400717640|title=Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants}}</ref>
** Modern crossbred varieties, e.g. Crenshaw (Casaba × Persian), Crane (Japanese × N.A. cantaloupe).

== Gallery ==
<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
</gallery>

==Production==

{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ Melon production, 2020
|-
! scope="col" | Country
! scope="col" | Production<br /><small>(millions of tonnes)</small>
|-
| {{flag|China}} || {{right|13.83}}
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}} || {{right|1.72}}
|-
| {{flag|India}} || {{right|1.33}}
|-
| {{flag|Iran}} || {{right|1.28}}
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}} || {{right|0.79}}
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || {{right|0.69}}
|-
| {{flag|Guatemala}} || {{right|0.65}}
|-
| {{flag|Brazil}} || {{right|0.61}}
|-
| '''World''' || {{right|'''27.4'''}}
|-
| colspan="2" |<small>Source: [[FAOSTAT]] of the [[United Nations]]</small><ref name="faostat18">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC|title=Production of melons in 2018; Crops/Regions/World list/Production Quantity (pick lists)|date=2019|publisher=[[UN Food and Agriculture Organization]], Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT)|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=11 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511194947/http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

In 2018, world production of melons was 27 million [[tonne]]s, led by [[China]] with 46% of the total (table). [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], and [[India]] each produced more than 1 million tonnes.<ref name=faostat18/>

==See also==
* [[Cucurbita]] – Squash (plant)
* [[List of culinary fruits]]
* [[List of gourds and squashes]]
* [[List of melon dishes]]
* '''''<small>{{portal-inline|Food}}</small>'''''

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}
{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==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
 }} Interregional Research Project IR-4

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* {{cite web
 | url=http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/nexus/Cucumis_melo_nex.html
 | title=Cucumis melo L.
 | publisher=Purdue University, Center for New Crops & Plant Products
 | access-date=2014-10-20
}}
* {{cite web
 | url=http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Cucumis.html
 | title=Sorting Cucumis names
 | publisher=Multilingual multiscript plant name database
 | access-date=2014-10-20
}}

{{Melons}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Melons| ]]
[[Category:Cucurbitaceae]]
[[Category:Fruits originating in Africa]]