Banana melon is an heirloom
melon
A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The ...
in the genus ''
Cucumis
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''Cucumis'' is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes the cucumber (''Cucumis sativus''), muskmelons (''Cucumis melo'', including cantaloupe and honeydew), the horned melon (''Cucumis m ...
'' originating from around 1880 in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
Description
It weighs 5-10 pounds (2.2-3.6 kilograms) and measures 16-24 inches (40.6-70 centimeters) in length. Its name derives from its elongated, pointed shape and yellow rind, reminiscent of a
banana
A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", distinguis ...
, as well as its strong banana-like scent. Its soft flesh is salmon-colored and is said to have a very sweet flavor.
It was a popular variety in the late 19th century, being noted by
James J.H. Gregory as attracting much attention at agricultural fairs.
Availability
Seeds of the plant are available through several online sources.
See also
*
Muskmelon
''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 a musky aroma, and the rind can be smooth (such as ...
References
{{Melons
Cucumis
Melons
Fruits originating in North America
Edible fruits