View source for Sechium edule

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Cucurbitaceae
|genus=Sechium
|species=edule
|common_name=Chayote, Choko, Christophine
|habit=vine-climber
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Max ht box=10
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|Min wd box=10
|Min wd metric=ft
|Max wd box=20
|Max wd metric=ft
|width_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun, part-sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=edible, fruit
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=9
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=12
|image=Sechium edule dsc07767.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
The '''chayote''' (''Sechium edule''), also known as '''chuchu''',  '''sayote''', '''tayota''', '''choko''', '''chocho''', '''chow-chow''', '''christophene''', '''mirliton''', '''vegetable pear''', '''starprecianté''', and '''pear squash''' is an edible [[plant]] that belongs to the [[gourd]] family [[Cucurbitaceae]] along with [[melon]]s, [[cucumber]]s and [[squash (vegetable)|squash]].

[[Image:CutChayote.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Chayote inside]]In the most common variety, the fruit is roughly [[pear]] shaped, somewhat flattened and with coarse wrinkles, ranging from 10 to 20&nbsp;cm in length. It looks like a green pear and it has a thin green skin fused with the white flesh, and a single large flattened [[pit]]. 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{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} and may be eaten as part of the fruit.

Chayote vine can be grown on the ground, but it is a climbing plant that will grow onto anything and can easily rise as high as 12 meters when it can reach a tree or house. Its [[Leaf|leaves]] are heart-shaped, 10–25&nbsp;cm wide and with tendrils on the stem. The flowers are cream-colored or somewhat green that come out beneath a leaf or branch. If the plant is male, the flowers will show in clusters. The plant’s [[fruit]] is light green and elongated with deep ridges lengthwise.

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==


==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Perulero.jpg|Perulero (yellowish-white variety)
Image:Sprouting-chayote-november.JPG|Sprouting chayote, showing reproductive process of this plant
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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