Sechium

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Sechium edule


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Cucurbitaceae >

Sechium >


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Sechium is a genus in subtribe Sicyinea of the tribe Sicyeae of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae.


Read about Sechium in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Sechium (probably from the Greek sekos, "to fatten in a fold," because it was fed to hogs). Cucurbitaceae. A climbing sparsely hairy herb, with perennial tuberous roots, grown in tropical and subtropical regions for its large fruits, which somewhat resemble the summer squash in use and character.

Leaves membranaceous, 3-angled or -lobed, cordate at the base; tendrils 2-5-branched, opposite the lvs.: fls. small, monoecious, axillary, the pistillate solitary, the staminate in small clusters; calyx-tube saucer-shaped, the limb 5-lobed; corolla rotate, deeply 5- parted, the segms. ovate-lanceolate; filaments and styles connate into a central column, of which the anthers appear as lobes, while the stigmas are closely set together, forming a small head: fr. pear-shaped or globose, fleshy, 1-seeded.—One species, indigenous in Mex. and Cent. Amer. and widely planted. CH


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Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Species

S.chinantlense
S.compositum
S. edule - chayote
S.hintonii
S.pittieri
S.venosum

Gallery

References

External links