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| Latin: |
Cucumis melo |
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| Origin: |
The fruit of the plant Cucumis melo inodorus H.Jacq., or Cucumis melo var. inodorus[G], of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Probably native of Asia, the fruit plant is grown in many parts of the world now.
Cucumis melo, or melon, refers to the trailing vine which consists of a number of varieties that is grown for its edible, often musky-scented fruit. The Inodorus group includes crenshaw, casaba, other mixed melons and the honeydew melons.
Honeydew melon is smooth and round, with pale-green to creamy yellow skin and sweet, pale-green flesh. New varieties may have orange or pink tinged flesh. The fruit usually weighs from about 1,300 to 2,700 g.
The annual climber grows to about 1.5 m tall. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by insects. The plant is self-fertile. It cannot grow in the shade and requires moist soil. The size of the fruit varies widely between cultivars but is up to 10 cm long and 7 cm wide.
Honeydews are harvested by maturity and not by size. Maturity is difficult to judge because no clear abscission (slip, separation) from the vine occurs. Maturity classes are grouped predominantly by changes in 'ground color' from greenish to cream with yellow accents.
Although honeydew melons are now available year-round, their peak seasons are from June to October.
Also called Winter Melon. |
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| Properties: |
| Sweet in flavor, cold in nature. |
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| Functions: |
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| Applications: |
Honeydew melon can be used as a cooling light cleanser or moisturiser for the skin.
It is also used as a first aid treatment for burns and abrasions. |
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| Dosage and Administration: |
The fruit is eaten raw, or used in salad. The flesh of the fruit can also be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereals when making bread, biscuits, etc.
Honeydew melon is very watery but with a delicate sweet flavor. Unlike the cantaloupe melon it is not aromatic. A very refreshing fruit, especially on a hot day.
The seed can be eaten raw. Rich in oil with a nutty flavor but very fiddly to use because the seed is small and covered with a fibrous coat.
Choose honeydew that are heavy and free of bruises. Look at the navel, where the stem attached, to detect mold, excessive softness, or evidence that may show when the melon was harvested. If a shriveled stem is still attached, it was picked too soon. Honeydews do not ripen after picking, and only keep for about two weeks after that, instead only growing softer. A honeydew's ripeness can sometimes be detected by a delicate aroma, or by tapping it lightly for a hollow sound. Hard honeydews can be good if left to soften at room temperature for a couple of days. Store ripe honeydews in the refrigerator and, if cut, be sure they are tightly covered. |
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| Cautions on Use: |
The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.
The stem of the melon is toxic. |
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| Reference Materials: |
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| Toxic or Side Effects: |
The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.
The stem of the melon is toxic. |
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| Modern Researches: |
Every 100 g of Hami melon contains 91 g water, 0.7 g crude protein, 0.2 g crude fat, 7.6 g carbohydrate, 0.4 g crude fiber, 0.8 g dietary fiber, 0.6 g ash, 0.3 mg nicotinic acid, 23 mg sodium, 200 mg potassium, 14 mg calcium, 13 mg magnesium, 14 mg phosphorous, 0.2 mg iron, 0.3 mg zinc, vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, and others.
The fruit is stomachic.
The flowers are expectorant and emetic (induces vomiting).
The seed is antitussive (cough suppressant), digestive, febrifuge (reduces fever) and vermifuge (destroy or expel parasitic worms). When used as a vermifuge, the whole seed complete with the seed coat is ground into a fine flour, then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to take a purge in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body.
The seed contains between 12.5 - 39.1 percent oil. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. |
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