Chayote (Sechium edule), also known as mirliton and choko, is an edible plant belonging to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. This fruit was first cultivated in Mesoamerica between southern Mexico and Honduras, with the most genetic diversity available in both Mexico and Guatemala. It is one of several foods introduced to the Old World during the Columbian Exchange. At that time, the plant spread to other parts of the Americas, ultimately causing it to be integrated into the cuisine of many Latin American nations. The chayote fruit is mostly used cooked. When cooked, chayote is usually handled like summer squash; it is generally lightly cooked to retain the crispy consistency. Raw chayote may be added to salads or salsas, most often marinated with lemon or lime juice, but is often regarded as unpalatable and tough in texture. Whether raw or cooked, chayote is a good source of vitamin C. Although most people are familiar only with the fruit as being edible, the root, stem, seeds and leaves are edible as well. The tubers of the plant are eaten like potatoes and other root vegetables, while the shoots and leaves are often consumed in salads and stir fries, especially in Asia. Names and etymology The fruit goes by many English-language names around the world. The common American English name of the fruit (outside of Louisiana) is from the Spanish word , a derivative of the Nahuatl word (). The term chayote is also used in Puerto Rico. In Louisiana and Haiti it is known as mirliton (pronounced ) also spelled mirleton or merleton in the United Kingdom (the r is often silent, e.g. Cajun me-lay-taw or urban Creole miʁl-uh-tɔ̃ns) In Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, it is known as choko In China, it is referred to as foshugua, meaning "Buddha's palms melon". In the eastern Caribbean, the United Kingdom and Ireland, it is known as christophene, while it is chou chou in Jamaica. In India, the vegetable is called chow chow among other names; in the east and north east, it is simply known as squash and is a very popular vegetable used in both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. In other parts of the world, the English name is often chou chou (e.g. in Mauritius), or a variant thereof (e.g. chuchu in Brazil). In Madagascar and the western Indian Ocean, it is called "soasety." Cultivation Like other members of the gourd