Chayote
Chouchous on sale in Réunion Island
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Violales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Sechium Species: S. edule
Binomial name
Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz, 1800

The chayote (Sechium edule), also known as chocho, or christophine is an edible plant, which belongs to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae along with melons, cucumbers and squash. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2121 KB) Sechium edule on sale, Réunion Island Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Chayote ... Réunion is an island and overseas département (département doutre-mer, or DOM) of France, located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar, about 200 km southwest of Mauritius. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families see text Violales used to be an order of flowering plants in the Cronquist classification. ... Genera Abobra Acanthosicyos Actinostemma Alsomitra Ampelosycios Anacaona Apatzingania Apodanthera Bambekea Benincasa Biswarea Bolbostemma Brandegea Bryonia Calycophysum Cayaponia Cephalopentandra Ceratosanthes Chalema Cionosicyos Citrullus Coccinia Cogniauxia Corallocarpus Cremastopus Ctenolepis Cucumella Cucumeropsis Cucumis Cucurbita Cucurbitella Cyclanthera Dactyliandra Dendrosicyos Dicoelospermum Dieterlea Diplocyclos Doyerea Ecballium Echinocystis Echinopepon Edgaria Elateriopsis Eureiandra Fevillea Gerrardanthus Gomphogyne Gurania Guraniopsis... Species - chayote References: ISBN 92-9043-298-5 in pdf format Sechium is a genus in subtribe Sicyinea of the tribe Sicyeae of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (February 16, 1727 - October 26, 1817) was an Austrian scientist who studied medicine, chemistry and botany. ... Olof Peter Swartz (September 21, 1760, Norrköping, Sweden – September 19, 1816, Stockholm, Sweden) was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... This article refers to the dried fruit shell. ... Genera Abobra Acanthosicyos Actinostemma Alsomitra Ampelosycios Anacaona Apatzingania Apodanthera Bambekea Benincasa Biswarea Bolbostemma Brandegea Bryonia Calycophysum Cayaponia Cephalopentandra Ceratosanthes Chalema Cionosicyos Citrullus Coccinia Cogniauxia Corallocarpus Cremastopus Ctenolepis Cucumella Cucumeropsis Cucumis Cucurbita Cucurbitella Cyclanthera Dactyliandra Dendrosicyos Dicoelospermum Dieterlea Diplocyclos Doyerea Ecballium Echinocystis Echinopepon Edgaria Elateriopsis Eureiandra Fevillea Gerrardanthus Gomphogyne Gurania Guraniopsis... For other uses, see Melon (disambiguation). ... This article is about the fruit. ... Species - hubbard squash, buttercup squash - cushaw squash - butternut squash - most pumpkins, acorn squash, summer squash References: ITIS 22365 2002-11-06 Hortus Third Squashes are four species of the genus Cucurbita, also called pumpkins and marrows depending on variety or the nationality of the speaker. ...

The plant has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit. The vine is grown on the ground or more commonly on trellises. Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ...

Costa Rica is a major exporter of Chayotes world-wide. Costa Rican chayotes can be purchased in the European Union, the United States and other places in the world. Chayote is a very important ingredient in the Mexican diet. Veracruz state is the most important Chayote growing area of the whole country, and is also a major exporter of this product, mainly to the United States.

Taxonomy

The plant was first recorded by modern botantists in P.Browne's 1756 work. ^[1] In 1763 it was classified by Jacquin as Sicyos edulus and by Adanson as Chocho edulus. Swartz included it in 1800 in its current genus Sechium. An editor has expressed a concern that the subject of the article does not satisfy one of the guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia on one of the following topics: If you are familiar with the subject matter, please expand the article to establish its notability, citing reliable sources. ... Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (February 16, 1727 - October 26, 1817) was an Austrian scientist who studied medicine, chemistry and botany. ... Hi I am Adanson. ... Olof Peter Swartz (September 21, 1760, Norrköping, Sweden – September 19, 1816, Stockholm, Sweden) was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist. ... Species - chayote References: ISBN 92-9043-298-5 in pdf format Sechium is a genus in subtribe Sicyinea of the tribe Sicyeae of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. ...

Description

Chayote inside

In the most common variety, the fruit is roughly pear shaped, somewhat flattened and with coarse wrinkles, ranging from 10 to 20 cm in length. It has a thin green skin fused with the white flesh, and a single large flattened pip. The flesh has a fairly bland taste, and a texture described as a cross between a potato and a cucumber. Although generally discarded, the seed has a nutty flavour and may be eaten as part of the fruit. Image File history File links CutChayote. ... Image File history File links CutChayote. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up PIP in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Potato (disambiguation). ... This article is about the fruit. ...

Culinary and medicinal uses

Ichintal (Chayote Root)

Although most people are familiar only with the fruit, which in culinary terms is a vegetable, the root, stem, seeds, and leaves are all edible. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Vegetable (disambiguation). ...

The fruit does not need to be peeled and can be eaten raw in salads. It can also be boiled, stuffed, mashed, baked, fried, or pickled. Both the fruit and the seed are rich in amino acids and vitamin C. This article is about the class of chemicals. ... This article is about the nutrient. ...

The tuberous part of the root is starchy and is both eaten by humans and used as cattle fodder. For fungal genus, see tuber (genus). ... For other uses, see Root (disambiguation). ...

The leaves and fruit have diuretic, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory properties, and a tea made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of arteriosclerosis and hypertension, and to dissolve kidney stones. This illustration shows where some types of diuretics act, and what they do. ... The circulatory system or cardiovascular system is the organ system which circulates blood around the body of most animals. ... Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. ... // Introduction Arteriosclerosis means the hardening of the arteries in Greek. ... For other forms of hypertension, see Hypertension (disambiguation). ... Kidney stones are solid accretions (crystals) of dissolved minerals in urine found inside the kidneys or ureters. ...

A dish made with chayote shoots

In Taiwan, chayotes are widely planted for its shoot, known as lóng xü cài (Tr. Ch. 龍鬚菜, lit. Dragon-whisker vegetable). Along with the young leaves, the shoot is a commonly consumed vegetable in the region. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the plant section. ... Leaves are an Icelandic five-piece alternative rock band who came to prominence in 2002 with their debut album, Breathe, drawing comparisons to groups such as Coldplay and Doves. ...

Myths

• In Australia, a rumour has floated around for years that McDonalds Apple Pies were made of chokos, not apples. This eventually led them to emphasise the fact that real Granny Smith apples are used in their pies. Chokos are more expensive than the apples supplied to McDonalds Australia.^{[citation needed]}

• Due to its cell regenerative properties, it is believed as an urban myth that this fruit caused the mummification of people from Colombian town of San Bernardo who extensively consumed it. The very well preserved skin and flesh can be seen in the mummies today.^{[citation needed]}

McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... For the manga anthology series, see Petit Apple Pie. ... This article is about the fruit. ... Location of the town and municipality of San Bernardo in Cundinamarca Department. ...

Alternate names

Chayote (pronounced [tʃa'jɔte], roughly "chy-O-tay"), is the Spanish name of the plant, from Nahuatl hitzayotli. It is used in many parts of Spanish-speaking Latin America and in the US. It is known all over the world by many other names: Nahuatl ( [1] is a term applied to a group of related languages and dialects of the Aztecan [2] branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, indigenous to central Mexico. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American...

Africa

• Mauritius: chouchou
• Réunion Island: chouchou

America

• Brazil: chuchu
• Caribbean: christoferine, christophene, cho-cho
• Colombia: Guatila (Cundinamarca) or Cidra (Caldas). Another popular and vulgar name is papa de los pobres (Spanish for 'poor man's potato')
• Dominican Republic: tayota [ta'jɔta] or "chayote"
• French Antilles: christophene, christophine
• Guatemala-El Salvador-Honduras: The dark green variety is labeled güisquil, the yellowish-white variety perulero and the more common light-green variety pataste.
  

  Perulero (yelowish-white variety)
• Haiti: ¨"militon"
• Jamaica: "chocho"
• Latin America: gayota
• Louisiana (Cajun, Creole, English): mirliton (sometimes spelled merliton) but pronounced in New Orleans and surrounding parishes as "mel-a-tawn"
• Luana: xuxu
• Paraguay: Papa del aire

Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ...

Asia

• China (Cantonese): 佛手瓜 fut sao gwa (lit. Buddha hand melon), 合掌瓜 hup jeung gwa (lit. closed palms squash)
• China (Mandarin): 佛手瓜 (lit. "Buddha hand squash")
• India (Kannada): Seemae BaDhneKayi
• India (Tamil): Bangalore Katharikai or "Chow Chow"
• India (Darjeeling): Ishkus
• India (Manipur): DasGoos
• Indonesia: labu siam (lit. Siamese pumpkin), jipang or waluh
• Japan: hayatouri (ハヤトウリ)
• Myanmar: gorakha thee (lit. Gurkha fruit)
• Philippines: sayote
• Thailand: fuk maew ฟักแม้ว
• Vietnamese: su-su, trai su

Europe

• Italy: zucca centenaria
• Norway: chavote
• Portugal: chuchu, xuxu
• Russian: чайот chajot
• Slovenia: čajota

Oceania

• Australia: choko
• Hawaii: pipinola

Other places

• English-speaking countries: chouchou, chocho, cho-cho, mango squash, vegetable pear, mirliton (in New Orleans)

See also

• List of vegetables
• Araujia sericifera, a toxic weed that is often described as "choko-like".

This is a list of vegetables in the culinary sense, which means it includes some botanical fruits like pumpkins and doesnt include herbs, spices, cereals and most culinary fruits and culinary nuts. ... Binomial name Araujia sericifera Brot. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Chayote

• Gourmet Sleuth
• neglected crops - Chayote
• Plant of the Week Gallery - Killerplants.com

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

References

• Rafael Lira Saade. 1996. Chayote Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 8. Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-9043-298-5 available in pdf format