Cucumis melo var. dudaim
Dudaim melon
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC0
Family: Cucurbitaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Cucumis melo var. dudaim (Dudaim melon) is a non-native California annual in the Cucurbitaceae family, recognized by distinctive orange fruit.
Dudaim melon is a naturalized annual found in southeastern Colorado Desert region in Imperial County in fields and roadsides at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces flowers that lead to distinctive orange fruits with irregular blotches or stripes. Growing with sprawling vines characteristic of its melon family, it spreads across open ground. Its leaves are broad and typically lobed, supporting the plant's climbing growth habit. The fruit is cylindrical to nearly spherical, featuring unique orange coloration with irregular markings.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated in southeastern Sonoran Desert; distinctive orange fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to Africa, southern Asia
Bloom period
Cucumis melo var. dudaim blooms Mar-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Marah: Cucumis flowers are yellow; Marah flowers are white or cream.; vs Cucurbita: Cucumis flowers are flat and plate-like under 3 cm; Cucurbita flowers are deep cups over 3 cm.; vs Citrullus: Cucumis leaves have simple, broad lobes; Citrullus leaves are lacy and finely divided.; vs Sicyos: Cucumis has yellow flowers and unbranched tendrils; Sicyos has greenish-white flowers.; vs Solanum: Cucumis has tendrils and vine habit; Solanum lacks tendrils.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cucumis melo var. dudaim native to California?
No. Cucumis melo var. dudaim is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Cucumis melo var. dudaim bloom?
Cucumis melo var. dudaim blooms Mar-Sep.
What plant family does Cucumis melo var. dudaim belong to?
Cucumis melo var. dudaim is in the Cucurbitaceae family, genus Cucumis.
What habitat does Cucumis melo var. dudaim grow in?
Cucumis melo var. dudaim grows in Fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.