Muskmelon

Muskmelon, edible fruit of certain plants (Cucumis melo) belonging to the gourd family. Cantaloupes, Persian melons, casabas, and honeydew melons are subspecies of muskmelon. The plants are annual, grow along the ground, and produce hairy, heart-shaped leaves and 5-lobed yellow flowers. The fruit varies: the skin may be smooth, ridged, or latticed, and the flesh white, pale green, or orange. Muskmelons grow best in a hot, dry climate. They are believed to have originated in western Asia.