melon

melon fruit of Cucumis melo, a plant of the family Curcurbitaceae ( gourd family) native to Asia and now cultivated extensively in warm regions. There are many varieties, differing in taste, color, and skin texture—e.g., Persian, honeydew, casaba, muskmelon, and cantaloupe. The true cantaloupe (var. cantalupensis ), introduced to Cantalupo, Italy, from Armenia, is a hard-shelled or rock melon. It is little grown outside the Mediterranean countries; the cantaloupes of the United States are varieties of the muskmelon. Melon is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Curcurbitaceae.

melon Gourds, sweet fruit of Cucurmis melo. A 200‐g portion is a rich source of vitamin C (melons with orange or yellow flesh are a rich source of carotene); a source of vitamin B₆; provides 2 g of dietary fibre; supplies 45 kcal (190 kJ). The water melon is Citrullis vulgaris, jelly or horned melon is kiwano.