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What Americans call cantaloupe is actually muskmelon. True cantaloupe is not netted, has smooth to rough skin and is not commercially grown in the United States. Europeans recognize a clear distinction between cantaloupe and muskmelon.

Types of Melons

Melons for the Passionate Grower
by Amy Goldman, Victor Schrager (Photographer)

There's more to the world of melons than just the cantaloupe and honeydew, but this may not be true for long: many varieties are "on the brink of extinction," according to cultivator and collector Goldman. This handsome volume documents unusual types of melon like the Collective Farm Woman (originally from Ukraine) and the serpent-shaped Snake melon with lavish color photos and playful descriptions.

Goldman also instructs readers on how to pollinate, grow and harvest these plants; includes a list of commercial sources; and throws in a few recipes and plenty of trivia ("the Chinese grow more watermelons than anyone else but... they eat the seeds and often discard the melons").

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