BY LEWIS A. BERNAYS. 43 



hogs, although there is a host of concuj.'1'ent testimony that it is 

 largely used as a culinary vegetable by man in all places where 

 its grows. 



The '• Choclio " of Jamaica (Secliiuin eduJe, Swartz) is 

 known by other vernacular names in other countries. In Brazil 

 it is " chuchu," in the French W. Indies " christopliine," in 

 Madeira "pipinella " and " chayota." From this latter locality 

 it reaches Covent Garden Market, where it is known as 

 " chayote " — sometimes called " chay," but this latter name is pro- 

 bably a mere trade abbreviation. I think the balance is in favour 

 of "chayote," both because it is euphonious, and is the chief desig- 

 nation by which it is known in Europe. The chayote is aperennial 

 cucurbitaceous plant, and a strong climber, with three to five- 

 cleft tendrils, and a smooth somewhat stout siem, rising from a 

 very large fleshy perennial root having the appearance of a 

 yam. The leaves are heart-shaped, rough to the touch, and 

 five-angled. The flowers are green or yellow, with separate male 

 and female flowers on the same plant. The fniit in shape is 

 like an elongated pear, about three to five inches long, covered 

 with soft prickles, and either green or cream-coloured. There 

 are two varieties, one having flower and fruit of a pale green, 

 and the other with flower and fruit rather larger, cream-coloured or 

 "white. The fruit contains a single seed, like a large thin almond, 

 situated at the very top and when ripe projecting a little 

 and emitting roots while still on the vine. 



The Chayote is now widely distributed in all parts of tropical 

 America, in the East Indies, and in Madeira and the Atlantic 

 Islands. De Candolle attributes its native habitat to the south 

 •of Mexico and Central America, whence it was probably trans- 

 ported into the West India Islands and to Brazil, in the 

 eighteenth century. 



Mr. Morris stated that in the West Indies the plant flourishes 

 at temperatures ranging from 63 degs. to 75 degs. Fahrenheit. 

 Experience in Brisbane proves that it fruits abundantly with a 

 much wider range of temperature, remaining unscathed under 

 4 degs. of frost, while other cucurbitaceous plants blacken 

 and succumb. 



