Muskmelon

Muskmelon is a common name for several cultivated melons in the gourd family, especially the netted-rind forms of *Cucumis melo* in the Reticulatus cultivar group.

Muskmelon is a common name for several cultivated melons in the gourd family, especially the netted-rind forms of Cucumis melo in the Reticulatus cultivar group. The fruits are known for their sweet, aromatic flesh and are widely eaten fresh. In North American usage, the term is often used interchangeably with cantaloupe, though botanical usage is more specific.

Botanical classification

Muskmelon is a cultivated form of Cucumis melo in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. In strict botanical usage, the term is usually applied to netted-rind cultivars in the Reticulatus group.

Description

Muskmelons typically have a netted rind and sweet, juicy flesh that is often orange, though flesh colour and rind texture can vary among cultivars. The fruit is noted for its characteristic aroma.

Cultivation and use

Muskmelon is a warm-season crop grown as an annual vine. The fruit is mainly eaten fresh, and it is also a commercially important melon crop. In Canada, muskmelon is a widely sold summer fruit and a common home-garden crop.

Name and usage

The common name comes from the musky odor the fruit may emit when cut. In everyday English, especially in North America, muskmelon and cantaloupe are often used as overlapping terms, although botanical sources distinguish them more narrowly.