The Morphological Characterization of the Melon Species in the Family Cucurbitaceae Juss., and their Utilization in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstrac t Detailed morphological study of the vegetative and floral parts of the melon species belonging to the family, Cucurbitaceae, found in Nigeria was conducted in search of intergeneric and intraspecific characters that may be of taxono mic value in the species identification. Important and significant diagnostic characters were observed. Morphological characters that may be of taxonomic value are variat ions in the fru it colour, seed color, and seed sizes. Branched tendrils were found in the C. lanatus species, and C. moschata (Duch. Ex Lam.) Duch. Ex Poiret, while Cucumis melo L. (sweet melon), and Cucumeropsis mannii Naud. (syn. C. edulis (Hooker f.) cogn.) (White-seeded melon), have simple tendrils. The morphological differences existing between watermelon and brown-seeded melon in particular and among the melons as a whole are presented.