Raw melon

Raw melon

(food materia medica by Yao Kecheng)

[synonym] cantaloupe (compendium).

[source] it is the fruit of Cucurbitaceae.

[plant morphology] Caigua (xuepu Zashu)

Annual climbing or creeping herbs. Stems bristled. Leaves alternate; leaves round or nearly heart-shaped, 8-15 cm in length and width, apex rounded, base deeply heart-shaped, margin irregularly serrate, both sides hairy; petioles long, spiny. Flowers unisexual; male flowers clustered, female flowers solitary, with long stalks; calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, hairy; corolla yellow, 5-lobed; stamens 3, separated, inserted in calyx tube, filaments short; ovary inferior, style short, stigma 3. The fruit is rod-shaped, medium-sized, about 30 cm long, and the thickest part is about 4 cm in diameter; the surface is rough, black green, with 10 light green stripes; the flesh is green, white and solid. The flowering period is from June to July.

Born in the warm zone. It is widely cultivated in various parts of China.

[collection] the fruits are harvested when they are ripe in summer.

[nature and taste] Yao Kecheng's food materia medica: "it tastes sweet, slightly cold and non-toxic. "

[function and indications] Yao Kecheng's food materia medica: "it is mainly used to clean the stomach, quench thirst, clear the heat and replenish qi. "