melon

The title of this article is ambiguous. Further meanings are listed under Melon (disambiguation) .

Cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo var.cantalupensis)

As melon is known especially in subtropical areas cultivated plants with large, succulent berries -Früchten. They belong to the cucurbitaceae family . The German name is derived from the Latin melo , “melon”, especially the sugar melon , from the Greek word μήλο ( mēlo ) “apple” as a short form of mēlopépōn , “apple melon, apple peach”, also “ripe apple”.

A distinction is mainly made between sugar melons and watermelons .

In botany, melons are not regarded as a related group, the sugar melons ( Cucumis melo ) are more closely related to the cucumbers than to the watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus ).

The fruit is called armored berry due to its firm skin .

Important types of melons

• Sugar melon ( Cucumis melo ), among others with
  • Winter melons, e.g. B.
    • Futuro melon (Piel de sapo (sp) = toad skin)
    • Honeydew melon
  • Net melons , e.g. B.
    • Galia melon
  • Cantaloupe melons , e.g. B.
    • Charentais melon

• Watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus ), approx. 150 varieties
• Nara melon ( Acanthosicyos horridus )

Maturity

Ripe watermelons sound hollow when knocked and honeydew melons sound dull, while unripe melons hardly make a sound. Even if melons still ripen at home, the melons that have ripened in the field have the most intense aroma. The sweetish smell of the fruit is another characteristic of ripeness. Compared to unripe melons of the same size, ripe melons are also heavier.

The underside of the melon that was in contact with the ground changes color from white or pale green to slightly yellowish as it ripens. However, the color of the skin is not a sign of maturity; However, an overripe fruit can be recognized by a brownish or even moist stem base.

If the fruit is immature, it can have a laxative effect.

Trivia

In Turkmenistan is officially celebrating the Day of Turkmen Melon .

Web links

Commons : Sugar and Watermelons  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

Wiktionary: Melon  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

1. ^ Friedrich Kluge , Alfred Götze : Etymological dictionary of the German language . 20th edition, ed. by Walther Mitzka . De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1967; Reprint (“21st unchanged edition”) ibid 1975, ISBN 3-11-005709-3 , p. 473.