Cantaloupe and watermelon are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family. This family includes crops such as cucumbers, summer and winter squash, and gourds. Melon is a general term for a fruit produced by various members of this plant family and refers to netted and non-netted fruits, including the cantaloupe, muskmelon, honeydew and Asian melon. Cantaloupes are often referred to as muskmelons. Musk is a Persian word meaning “perfume,” which refers to the fruit’s musky, sweet fragrance. Most Americans use the word cantaloupe rather than muskmelon to describe this fruit.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/susgard/1006/thumbnail.jp
