Casaba

Casaba (Cucumis melo), type of muskmelon, also called winter melon because it ripens in fall and is available in winter. The casaba is round or oval, with a pointed stem, and weighs 2–9 lbs (1–4 kg). Its hard outer skin, which ripens from green to yellow, is smooth but wrinkled. Rich in vitamin C and potassium, its flesh is sweet and juicy and ranges in color from green to white. The casaba, which originated in Iran and the Transcaucasia, is named for the town in southwest Turkey (Kasaba) from which it was introduced in the United States in 1871. It is now grown in California and the Southwest. It is a member of the gourd family and grows on vines.