What is the difference between cantaloupe and muskmelon?

One of the great joys of summer has to be fresh cantaloupe, either from the local farmer's market or your own home garden. But is it cantaloupe or muskmelon? There is technically a difference, but often the names are used interchangeably. The term cantaloupe refers to two varieties of muskmelon. read more

What is commonly referred to as a cantaloupe is actually a species of muskmelon; cantaloupe is just a different name for the Cucumis melo reticulatus muskmelon. There is also a variety called a European cantaloupe that is a muskmelon as well. read more

There is technically a difference, but often the names are used interchangeably. The term cantaloupe refers to two varieties of muskmelon. What we typically call a cantaloupe is Cucumis melo reticulatus, also called the North American cantaloupe. read more

A muskmelon is a member of the reticulatus group, characterized by a netlike ribbed rind and sweet orange flesh. A cantaloupe is a member of the cantalupensis group, named for Cantalupo, a former papal villa near Rome. read more