Cantaloupe (also cantelope, cantaloup, muskmelon (India and the United States), mushmelon, rockmelon, sweet melon, honeydew, Persian melon, or spanspek (South Africa)) refers to a variety of Cucumis melo, a species in the family Cucurbitaceae.Cantaloupes range in weight from 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1.1 to 11.0 lb).Originally, cantaloupe referred only to the non-netted, orange-fleshed melons of Europe. However, in more recent US usage, it has come to mean any orange-fleshed melon (C. melo). Cantaloupe is the most popular variety of melon in the United States.antaloupes range in weight from 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1.1 to 11.0 lb). Originally, cantaloupe referred only to the non-netted, orange-fleshed melons of Europe. However, in more recent US usage, it has come to mean any orange-fleshed melon (C. melo).