The term 'melonlike tropical fruit' can be summarized by three crossword solutions: PAPAW (5 letters), Papaws (6 letters), and PAPAYA (6 letters). PAPAW is a common name for the fruit Carica PAPAYA, which is native to the tropics of the Americas. Papaws are the edible fruits of the PAPAW tree, which is native to the Eastern United States. PAPAYA is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Carica, which is native to Central America and Mexico. All three of these fruits are melonlike in shape and texture, and are popularly eaten fresh or used in cooking.