Muskmelon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Muskmelon |
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Cucumis
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C. melo
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| Cucumis melo |
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Muskmelons (scientific name: Cucumis melo) are a type of melon known for their sweet, often fragrant, fruit. You might know them best as Cantaloupes, which are a very popular kind of muskmelon. But there are many other kinds too!
The name "muskmelon" comes from two words. "Musk" means "perfume" in Persian, which makes sense because many muskmelons smell so good. "Melon" comes from a French word, which itself came from a Latin word meaning "apple-shaped melon."
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Where Muskmelons Come From
Muskmelons originally grew in places like Iran, India, and Afghanistan. People in these areas have been growing and eating them for a very long time.
Ancient History of Muskmelons
The first time we know for sure that muskmelons were mentioned was in Greece around 300 years before Christ was born. There's even an old painting from Egypt that some people think shows a muskmelon!
By the first century AD, people in the Roman lands knew about muskmelons. Both the Greeks and Romans found that these fruits could be used as medicine or simply eaten as a tasty snack. Around the same time, people in China also discovered muskmelons.
Muskmelons Spread Around the World
During the Middle Ages, muskmelons started to spread across Europe. They traveled as far west as Spain. Later, in 1494, Christopher Columbus brought muskmelon seeds to the Caribbean.
By the 1600s, muskmelons were being grown all over North America. Both European settlers and Native Americans planted them. By 1650, muskmelons had even reached Brazil in South America.
How Muskmelons Taste
Muskmelons can taste really different from one fruit to another. Some are super sweet and delicious, while others might not taste as good. This difference in taste might be why it took a long time for muskmelons to become popular everywhere. Finding a perfectly ripe and sweet muskmelon is always a treat!
Images for kids
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Japanese "crown melon" intended as a high-priced gift: The pictured crown melon is 6300 yen, or about US$59
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'Squared melon' grown in Atsumi District, Aichi Japan, known as kakumero
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The Armenian cucumber, despite the name, is actually a type of melon.
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Melon vendor in Samarkand (between 1905 and 1915)
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Oriental pickling melon
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Muskmelon Seeds
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