Cucumis melo var. flexuosus

(L.) Naudin

Armenian cucumber, Snake cucumber

Cucurbitaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Vegetable 8,388 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Cucumis melo, also known as melon, is a species of Cucumis that has been developed into many cultivated varieties. The fruit is a pepo. The flesh is either sweet or bland, with or without an aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as honeydew), ribbed (such as European cantaloupe), wrinkled (such as Casaba melon), or netted (such as American cantaloupe). The species is sometimes referred to as muskmelon. However, there is no consensus about the usage of this term, as it can also be used as a specific name for the musky netted-rind American cantaloupe, or as a generic name for any sweet-flesh variety such the inodorous smooth-rind honeydew melon. The origin of melons is not known. Research has revealed that seeds and rootstocks were among the goods traded along the caravan routes of the Ancient World. Some botanists consider melons native to the Levant and Egypt, while others place their origin in Iran, India or Central Asia. Still others support an African origin; in modern times, wild melons can still be found in some African countries.

Description

A pumpkin family plant. The fruit are many times longer than wide. It is usually furrowed and often curved. They are 20-90 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. They are softly hairy when young.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw in salads with salt and vinegar, cooked in curries, used in preserves, or pickled. The seeds are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw. They can be added to salads with salt and vinegar. They are also used in preserves, cooked in curries or pickled. The seeds are eaten.

Distribution

It is a Mediterranean climate plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Armenia, Asia, Caucasus, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Europe, India, Japan, Lebanon, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Pakistan, Sudan, Turkey, Türkiye,

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Notes

There are about 25 Cucumis species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	94.5	75	18	0.6	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Cucumis melo Flexuosus groupCucumis flexuosus Linn.Cucumis melo-flexuosus Naud.

Also Known As

Acur, Fakoos, Fakkous, Feggous, Kari, Mekti, qitha, Serpent melon, Snake melon, Tharr, Uri, Yard-long cucumber

References (13)

Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 4, 11:63. 1859
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 85
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 235
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 697
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 72

Show all 13 references

Kays, S. J., and Dias, J. C. S., 1995, Common Names of Commercially Cultivated Vegetables of the World in 15 languages. Economic Botany, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 115-152
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1721
Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 167 (As Cucumis flexuosus)
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Schneider, E., 2001, Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini: The essential reference. HarperCollins. p 239
Sp. pl. ed. 2, 2:1437. 1763 (As Cucumis flexuosus)
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
Yang, Si-Lin and Walters, T. W., 1992, Ethnobotany and the Economic role of the Cucurbitaceae of China. Economic Botany, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 349-367