6l8 BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



CUCUMIS MELO (Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, Melons) 



Description. — This is a hirsute or rough annual herb with 

 prostrate stems. The leaves are subcordate, with somewhat 

 rounded angles. The flowers are monoecious, or in some 

 varieties the pistillate flowers are with stamens. The fruit 

 varies in shape and size. 



Cucumis melo is considered to be a native of southern Asia. 



Botanical Varieties of Cucumis melo. — Naudin has mono- 

 graphed the species Cucumis melo, and according to him, it 

 is divided into a number of botanical varieties, races, or 

 groups which can be fertihzed by each other. The principal 

 ones are as follows: 



1. Netted Melons {Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) . — To this 

 group belong the common muskmelons. These usually have 

 a netted skin, sometimes almost smooth. All of them are 

 shallow ribbed melons, the flesh of which may be green- or 

 salmon-tinted (Jenny Lind, Emerald Green, Netted Gem, 

 Rust Resistant Pollock, Ironclad, Montreal Nutmeg, Cos- 

 mopolitan, Ryan's Early Watters). The so-called "Rocky 

 Ford Cantaloupes" are not true cantaloupes; the "Rocky 

 Fords" include a number of varieties (chiefly Rust Resistant 

 Pollock No. 25, Netted Gem), all of which are netted melons 

 (var. reticulatus). 



2. Cantaloupes or Rockmelons {Cucumis melo var. canta- 

 lupensis) .—The true cantaloupes are usually deep-ribbed, 

 hard-rinded, and warty or scaly. The flesh is either green- 

 or salmon-tinted (Hackensack, Nutmeg, Carmes, Long 

 Yellow). 



3. Pineapple Melons {Cucumis melo var. saccharinus) . — 

 These resemble the common netted melons. They are ob- 

 long in shape and have a very tender flesh. 



4. Snake Melon or Snake Cucumber {Cucumis melo var. 

 flexuosus). — The fruit of this is long and slender, bent and 



