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Sechium edule

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Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.

Family Name: Cucurbitaceae
Synonyms: Sechium americanum
Common Name: Chayote, Vegetable pear, Mango Squash, 隼人瓜

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Climber
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution Southern Mexico to Guatemala
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Climbing perennial vine up to 10 m long.
Roots The vine forms a tuberous root which is edible, but less commonly eaten.
Flowers The vine bears separate male and female flowers which both have nectaries at the base of the flower. The greenish to greenish-white male flowers occur in a spike-like inflorescence (10-30 cm long). The female flower is solitary or paired and occurs in the same leaf axil as the male inflorescence.
Fruit Pear-shaped, but slightly flattened fruit is typically borne solitary. The most popular cultivars are light green, smooth, hairless and about 15 cm long, but there is considerable diversity among other cultivars (eg., colour, shape, folds, etc.). The fruit typically weighs 0.2-0.4 kg, but sometimes up to 0.9-1.4 kg. The skin is slightly wrinkled to deeply wrinkled, especially along the bottom edge. The white, juicy flesh has a bland to slightly sweet flavor and contains a single elongated seed. The seeds are viviparous, germinating while still in the fruit.
Associated Fauna The flowers are often pollinated by Trigona bees in pesticide-free areas or honeybees (Apis mellifera) in agricultural areas where pesticides are used heavily. To a lesser extent, they are pollinated by wasps.
Cultivation The seeds should be planted about 3.7 m apart from one another. The vine will require a trellis for mechanical support. Apply well rotted compost or animal manure at the time of planting, about 4 months later and when the fruits are newly formed.
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves, Edible Storage Organs
Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The chayote fruit can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in various ways. A common way to eat the fruit is to peel it, cut in thin slices and stir-fry it. The tubers of the plant are starchy and eaten like potatoes. In the Malaysian highlands, people enjoy stir-frying the leaves and young shoots. In the USA, the chayote is often pickled. In Mexico, the dried fruits are used to make jam and candies. The fruit can be stored for several weeks by wrapping it in newspaper and placing it at cool temperature (10-13 degrees Celsisus).
Medicinal: Leaf infusions are used in traditional medicine to promote urination, as well as treat kidney stones and other kidney diseases, arteriosclerosis (blocking of the arteries by fatty deposits), and high blood pressure.   
Others: The strong, yet flexible stem fibres are used to make hats and baskets. In India, the fruits and roots are used as animal fodder.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola
Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Pollination Method(s) Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Semi-Shade
Water Preference Lots of Water
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Diseases Susceptible to root knot nematode, powdery mildew,
Propagation Method Stem Cutting (Herbaceous)
Propagation Method Remarks The seed dies if taken out of fleshy fruit. It can be propagated by planting whole fruit with large end slanting down.

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden
Flower Grouping Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Axillary
Inflorescence Type Raceme

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Green - Light Green
Mature Fruit Texture(s) Wrinkled
Fruit Classification Simple Fruit
Seed Description ovoid and compressed with a soft and smooth testa.

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Master ID 31558
Species ID 5957
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 25 August 2021.
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