melon plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cantaloupe
• honeydew
• musk melon
• Hami melon
• Rock melon
• Melons

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Luffa cylindrica
• Melo ameri
• Melo zard
• Melo cantalupa
• Melo cassaba
• Melo chandalak
• Cucumis melo f. agrestis
• Cucumis agrestis subsp. figari
• Cucumis melo convar. ameri
• Cucumis melo var. pedatifidus
• Cucumis sativus var. conomon
• Melo dudaim
• Cucumis melo f. flavus
• Cucumis melo var. momordica
• Cucumis melo var. indicus
• Cucumis orientalis
• Cucumis melo var. mansouri
• Cucumis melo var. mehanawy
• Cucumis melo var. flavus
• Cucumis microspermus
• Cucumis momordica
• Cucumis officinarum-melo
• Cucumis pedatifidus
• Cucumis turbinatus
• Cucumis maculatus
• Bryonia collosa
• Cucumis melo var. syriacus
• Cucumis melo var. tauricus
• Cucumis melo var. theioides
• Cucumis melo var. viridis
• Cucumis melo var. insularis
• Cucumis melo var. ispahanensis
• Cucumis melo var. leeanus
• Cucumis melo var. kurschaing
• Cucumis melo var. polignac
• Cucumis melo var. praecox
• Cucumis melo var. prescottii
• Cucumis melo var. citrinus
• Cucumis melo var. citrodorus
• Cucumis melo var. coronata
• Cucumis melo var. dampsa
• Cucumis melo var. daree
• Cucumis melo var. brasilianus
• Cucumis melo var. aestivalis
• Momordica lambertiana
• Melo chinensis
• Melo sativus
• Melo figari
• Melo vulgaris
• Melo adzhur
• Melo persicus
• Momordica sativa
• Ecballium lambertianum
• Pepo melopepo
• Pepo verrucosus
• Cucumis melo var. pancherianus
• Melo orientalis
• Cucumis microcarpus
• Cucumis melo convar. dudaim
• Cucumis melo convar. adana
• Cucumis melo convar. cantalupensis
• Cucumis melo convar. adzhur
• Melo chate
• Cucumis melo convar. reticulatus
• Cucumis melo convar. cantalupa
• Melo conomon
• Cucumis melo convar. cassaba
• Cucumis melo var. agrestis
• Cucumis melo convar. chandalak
• Cucumis melo subsp. agrestis
• Cucumis melo convar. chinensis
• Cucumis melo f. albus
• Cucumis melo convar. conomon
• Melo flexuosus
• Cucumis melo var. cultus
• Melo microcarpus
• Cucumis melo convar. flexuosus
• Melo monoclinus
• Cucumis melo var. dudaim
• Melo adana
• Cucumis melo convar. zard
• Melo agrestis
• Melo ambiguus
• Cucumis melo f. albidus
• Cucumis melo var. hime
• Cucumis melo f. dissectifolius
• Cucumis melo var. makuwa
• Cucumis melo f. dulcis
• Cucumis melo convar. microcarpus
• Cucumis melo var. tamago
• Cucumis melo f. ginmakua
• Cucumis melo f. variegatus
• Cucumis melo f. grandifolius
• Cucumis melo f. viridis
• Cucumis melo f. hamikua
• Cucumis melo f. kikumelon
• Cucumis melo f. rugosus
• Cucumis melo f. showamelon
• Cucumis pancherianus
• Cucumis melo proles ameri
• Cucumis melo proles cantalupa
• Cucumis jucunda
• Cucumis melo proles cassaba
• Cucumis jamaicensis
• Cucumis melo proles chandaljak
• Cucumis laevigatus
• Cucumis melo proles zard
• Cucumis pictus
• Cucumis melo subsp. adana
• Cucumis princeps
• Cucumis melo subsp. chate
• Cucumis pseudocolocynthis
• Cucumis melo subsp. chinensis
• Cucumis pseudocolocynthis
• Cucumis melo subsp. chinensis
• Cucumis pubescens
• Cucumis melo subsp. conomon
• Cucumis persicodorus
• Cucumis melo subsp. cultus
• Cucumis persicus
• Cucumis melo subsp. dudaim
• Cucumis serotinus
• Cucumis melo subsp. europaeus
• Cucumis melo subsp. flexuosus
• Cucumis melo subsp. microcarpus
• Cucumis reginae
• Cucumis melo subsp. pubescens
• Cucumis schraderianus
• Cucumis melo subsp. rigidus
• Cucumis utilissimus
• Cucumis melo subsp. vulgaris
• Cucumis melo subvar. aegyptiacus
• Cucumis melo subvar. agrestis
• Cucumis acidus
• Cucumis melo subvar. bassusi
• Cucumis flexuosus
• Cucumis melo subvar. cultus
• Cucumis eriocarpus
• Cucumis melo subvar. geyeidy
• Cucumis collosus
• Cucumis melo subvar. waraqi
• Cucumis dudaim
• Cucumis melo var. acidulus
• Cucumis melo var. adana
• Cucumis cicatrisatus
• Cucumis melo var. adress
• Cucumis chate
• Cucumis melo var. aethiopicus
• Cucumis chinensis
• Cucumis melo var. alboviridis
• Cucumis chito
• Cucumis melo var. ameri
• Cucumis conomon
• Cucumis melo var. ananas-i-chair-verte
• Cucumis cubensis
• Cucumis melo var. anatolicus
• Cucumis cubensis var. costatus
• Cucumis melo var. arundel
• Cucumis melo var. atab
• Cucumis melo var. aurantiacus
• Cucumis melo var. autumnales
• Cucumis cantalupo
• Cucumis melo var. azmirli
• Cucumis bisexualis
• Cucumis melo var. beida
• Cucumis campechianus
• Cucumis melo var. bitarianus
• Cucumis melo var. bos-valdy
• Cucumis aromaticus
• Cucumis melo var. buharici
• Cucumis melo var. bullock
• Cucumis melo var. burrells-gem
• Cucumis alba
• Cucumis melo var. cantalupa
• Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis
• Cucumis dudaim aegyptiacus
• Cucumis melo var. cantalupo
• Cucumis dudaim striatus
• Cucumis melo var. cantonianus
• Cucumis dudaim elongatus
• Cucumis melo var. casaba
• Cucumis dudaim bitarianus
• Cucumis melo var. chandalak
• Cucumis melo adana
• Cucumis melo var. chate
• Cucumis melo var. chinensis
• Cucumis melo var. albidus
• Cucumis melo var. chito
• Cucumis melo aurantiacus
• Cucumis melo var. conomon
• Cucumis melo rigidus
• Cucumis melo var. cossonianus
• Melo cassaba nid zhukovskyi
• Cucumis melo var. dumeri
• Cucumis melo var. romanus
• Cucumis melo var. duripulposus
• Cucumis melo var. salmoneus
• Cucumis melo var. sapidissimus
• Cucumis melo var. erythraeus
• Cucumis melo var. schraderianus
• Cucumis melo var. firany
• Cucumis melo var. siamensis
• Cucumis melo var. flexuosus
• Cucumis melo var. succosus
• Cucumis melo var. fucharici
• Cucumis melo var. susianuus
• Cucumis melo var. gem-rocky
• Cucumis melo var. golobcresdael
• Cucumis melo var. gourbek
• Cucumis melo var. gracilior
• Cucumis melo var. thessalonicus
• Cucumis melo var. hasanbey
• Cucumis melo var. turonensis
• Cucumis melo var. hibernus
• Cucumis melo var. unionis
• Cucumis melo var. hiemalis
• Cucumis melo var. honey-dew
• Cucumis melo var. inodorus
• Cucumis melo var. italicus
• Cucumis melo var. khadra
• Cucumis melo var. keiseng
• Cucumis melo var. macrocastanus
• Cucumis melo var. macroleucus
• Cucumis melo var. macropyrochrus
• Cucumis melo var. leucadicus
• Cucumis melo var. maculatus
• Cucumis melo var. leucodictyon
• Cucumis melo var. makua
• Cucumis melo var. leucospermus
• Cucumis melo var. maltensis
• Cucumis melo var. liliinus
• Cucumis melo convar. melitensis
• Cucumis melo var. microspermus
• Cucumis melo var. microcastanus
• Cucumis melo var. montaguanus
• Cucumis melo var. microleucus
• Cucumis melo var. naudinii
• Cucumis melo var. micropyrochrus
• Cucumis melo var. nigrescens
• Cucumis melo var. microcarpus
• Cucumis melo var. nucinus
• Cucumis melo var. nuksewan
• Cucumis melo var. minutissimus
• Cucumis melo var. odessanus
• Cucumis melo var. monoclinus
• Cucumis melo var. olorinus
• Cucumis melo var. persicodorus
• Cucumis melo var. orientalis
• Cucumis melo var. praecantalupa
• Cucumis melo var. pachyderma
• Cucumis melo var. paplis
• Cucumis melo var. pubescens
• Cucumis melo var. reticulatus
• Cucumis melo var. peruanus
• Cucumis melo var. rigidus
• Cucumis melo var. petrosus
• Cucumis melo var. saccharinus
• Cucumis melo var. saharunporensis
• Cucumis melo var. saidi
• Cucumis melo var. santawi
• Cucumis melo var. provincialis
• Cucumis melo var. senani
• Cucumis melo var. reginae
• Cucumis melo var. shahd
• Cucumis melo var. rhodosarx
• Cucumis melo var. shammam
• Cucumis melo var. chrysopetrus
• Cucumis melo var. striatus
• Cucumis melo var. tarra
• Cucumis melo var. texanus
• Cucumis melo var. utilissimus
• Cucumis melo var. vard
• Cucumis melo var. variegatus
• Cucumis melo var. deliciosus
• Cucumis melo var. vaughans-original-osage
• Cucumis melo var. dinodaim
• Cucumis melo var. vulgaris
• Cucumis melo var. ducalis
• Cucumis melo var. zaami
• Cucumis melo var. durans
• Cucumis melo var. zard
• Cucumis melo var. durrieni
• Cucumis melo var. zebrinoaurantiacus
• Cucumis melo var. ecostatus
• Cucumis melo var. zebrinoluteus
• Cucumis melo convar. elongatus
• Cucumis melo var. zhukovskyi
• Cucumis melo var. endaurantius
• Cucumis microspermus var. koreanus
• Cucumis melo var. erythrosarx
• Cucumis microspermus var. rugosus
• Cucumis melo var. faginus
• Cucumis conomon var. koreana
• Cucumis melo var. fairi
• Cucumis conomon var. rugosa
• Cucumis melo var. friesicus
• Cucumis melo var. gallicus
• Cucumis alba var. flavescens
• Cucumis melo var. gehoon
• Cucumis flexuosus var. adzhur
• Cucumis melo var. gerger
• Cucumis flexuosus var. curvatoalbus
• Cucumis melo var. germek
• Cucumis flexuosus var. curvatoaurantiacus
• Cucumis melo var. giganteus
• Cucumis flexuosus var. curvatoviridis
• Cucumis melo var. goorgab
• Cucumis flexuosus var. rectoalbus
• Cucumis melo var. hooseini
• Cucumis flexuosus var. rectoauranticus
• Cucumis melo var. insipidus
• Cucumis flexuosus var. rectoviridis
• Cucumis melo var. aegyptiacus
• Cucumis flexuosus var. reflexus
• Cucumis melo var. ananas
• Cucumis flexuosus var. terra
• Cucumis melo var. annae
• Cucumis melo subsp. ameri
• Cucumis melo var. argenteus
• Cucumis melo subsp. cantalupa
• Cucumis melo var. atossae
• Cucumis melo subsp. cassaba
• Cucumis melo subsp. chandalak
• Cucumis melo var. carmelitarum
• Cucumis melo subsp. zard
• Cucumis melo var. carthagenens
• Cucumis melo var. caseiformis
• Cucumis melo var. cassabar
• Cucumis melo var. chilensis
• Cucumis melo var. chloris
• Cucumis melo var. alwarensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Cucurbitaleales and the family Cucurbitaceae, it is classified under the genus Cucumis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cucumis melo, exhibits a specific distribution across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands and coastal areas of Great Britain. The species also occupies territories located in Norway. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cucumis melo is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of environments, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2350 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, thriving in distinct biomes such as the Cerrado (latu sensu) and the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). By occupying these varied landscapes—ranging from the seasonally dry tropical savannas of the Cerrado to the moist, high-rainfall conditions of ombrophilous forests—the plant adapts to a wide spectrum of moisture availability and light conditions across its altitudinal gradient.

Elevational range max:

2350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Cucumis melo is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological classification, the plant is identified as a therophyte, a life form that survives the unfavorable seasons through highly resistant seeds rather than through overwintering vegetative structures. This therophytic nature allows the plant to rapidly exploit seasonal resources, utilizing its prostrate or climbing habit to maximize photosynthetic efficiency before returning to a seed state to ensure the continuation of the species.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cucumis melo is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. As a terrestrial plant, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant exhibits a climbing habit, specifically categorized as an obligatory vine. Its shoot orientation is typically prostrate, though it can extend significantly in length. In terms of stature, the plant height is highly variable, with a minimum measurement of 0 m, a mean height of approximately 1.44 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

1.44444444444444 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cucumis melo is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that vary significantly in dimension, with a leaf length ranging from a minimum of 1.8 cm to a maximum of 9.5 cm, and a leaf width spanning from 2.7 cm to 10.2 cm. In terms of specialized nutritional and water-storage adaptations, the species is non-carnivorous and does not exhibit succulence, relying instead on standard transpiration and water uptake mechanisms. Furthermore, Cucumis melo is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic capabilities to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, requiring external nutrient sources for its metabolic processes.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.8 cm

Leaf width max:

10.2 cm

Leaf width min:

2.7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Cucumis melo is characterized by a sexual process utilizing bisexual flowers that typically feature a vibrant yellow color. The flowering period generally begins in June and concludes in September, relying on a biotic pollination syndrome specifically mediated by insects. Because self-fertilization is absent, the plant depends on these insect pollinators to facilitate successful reproduction. Once fertilized, the plant produces fleshy fruits, which vary in length from a minimum of 4.3 cm to a maximum of 6.6 cm. Within these fruits, the seed yield is substantial, with a count ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves exhibit specific morphological traits, including a maximum length of 4.5 mm, a maximum width of 2 mm, and a consistent seed volume of 11 mm³. The seed mass is variable, with a mean of approximately 0.0242 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00313 g to a maximum of 0.0965 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, though it is notably subject to anthropochorous dispersal through human activity. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

6.6 cm

Fruit length min:

4.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

4.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0965 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0242096666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00313 g

Seed volume max:

11 mm³

Seed width max:

2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cucumis melo has 3 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed, leaf.

Fruit

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
4. Toxicology reports
5. Journal of food biochemistry

Seed

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
3. General pharmacology

Leaf

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Chemicals

Cucumis melo has 174 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cucurbitacin E, Codisterol, Cucurbitacin B, Flavonoids, 1-Naphthalene acetic acid.

Cucurbitacin E

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Cell death & disease
4. Natural product research

Codisterol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Cucurbitacin B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Flavonoids

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

1-Naphthalene acetic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

2,4-Methylene cholesterol

1. Dr. Duke

22-Dihydrobrassicasterol

1. Dr. Duke

24-Methyl-25(27)-dehydrocycloartanol

1. Dr. Duke

24-Methyl-lathosterol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cucumis melo has 567 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Abortifacient, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
3. Biochemistry international
4. Cell death & disease

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biochemistry international
3. General pharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cell death & disease
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cell death & disease
3. General pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Journal of food biochemistry

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antiobesity

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Apoptotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Medicinal Uses

Cucumis melo has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, cancer, Diabetes mellitus, antidiabetic, benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations