Melon. Historical artwork of a melon (Cucumis melo, orange) growing on a vine. A flower is seen at top right. Melons have been cultivated for over 4000 years for their sweet watery pulp. The melon is a gourd fruit, found growing on one of two types of vine. One of the vines bears this type of melon, the other vine bears the watermelons. From The Instructive Picture Book or Lessons from the Vegetable World, Charlotte Mary Yonge, 1857.