Paris, H.S., Department of Vegetable Crops and Plant Genetics, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30-095, Israel
Amar, Z., Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52-900, Israel
Lev, E., Department of Land of Israel Studies, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31-905, Israel

Medieval History of the Duda'im Melon (Cucumis melo, Cucurbitaceae). Melons, Cucumis melo, are a highly polymorphic species for fruit characteristics. The melons that are the most valued are the ones that turn sweet when ripe, including the muskmelons, cantaloupes, and casabas. Others, including the elongate adzhur, conomon, and snake melons, are consumed when immature, like cucumbers. The duda'im melons, Cucumis melo Duda'im Group, are special, as their small, spherical, thin-fleshed, insipid but beautifully maroon, dark-orange, or brown-and-yellow striped ripe fruits are valued for ornament and especially for their lush fragrance. The distinctive properties of duda'im melons are matched with special names given to them in several languages and geographical areas, which have made possible tracing of the history of these melons to mid-9 th century Persia. From that region, duda'im melons diffused westward, likely facilitated by Islamic conquests, reaching North Africa and Andalusia in the 10 th century. © 2012 The New York Botanical Garden.