Chayote or christophine
Family Cucurbitaceae
Sechium edule, the chayote or christophine (S. edule 1), is a monoecious climbing herbaceous perennial vine, up to 12 m long, with large single leaves and small greenish flowers; the male ones in small clusters, the female ones solitary. The fruit is pear-shaped with longitudinal furrows, 10-20 cm long, containing a single seed; green (S. edule 2) or white (S. edule 3) in colour.
Distribution
The chayote is native to Mexico and Central America, and was a common vegetable among the Aztecs. Today the chayote has spread throughout the tropics.
Use
Chayotes, which have a cucumber-like taste, are eaten boiled as a vegetable, but they are also baked and fried. Young leaves and shoots are eaten as spinach, the fleshy roots are sometimes eaten boiled.