Chayote

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Choko
• Mirliton
• pipinella

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sechium edule subsp. sylvestre
• Sechium americanum
• Sechium edule
• Chayota edulis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Sicyos edulis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Cucurbitales and the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Sicyos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans both Atlantic islands and African coastal regions. Within the Macaronesian archipelago, it can be found growing in the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. Its presence also extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the territory of Cameroon. Furthermore, the species is documented inhabiting the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Consequently, its habitat encompasses a diverse range of tropical and subtropical maritime environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sicyo eduilis is characterized by its presence in the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where it thrives within these humid, high-rainfall forest ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, occupying an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2500 m AMSL. Furthermore, the plant utilizes specific biological mechanisms for defense, as evidenced by the presence of defensive traits that assist in its survival within its natural habitat.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Sicyo eduledis are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variation, which suggests a complex evolutionary history or potential polyploidy within the species. Cytological studies have identified varying chromosome numbers among different populations or accessions, specifically documented at 24, 26, and 28. This chromosomal plasticity indicates a dynamic genome that may contribute to the plant's ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Such fluctuations in the diploid number are significant markers for understanding the genetic diversity and taxonomic classification of this medicinal species.

Chromosome number :

24, 26, 28

Life history

The life history of Sicyoos edulis is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, the plant is categorized as a therophyte, a life form typically associated with completing its life cycle through specific seasonal stages. This growth habit ensures its continued presence within its ecological niche across variable environmental conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sicyo eduils is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an obligatory climber in the form of a vine. This terrestrial plant exhibits a rambling shoot orientation and does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it act as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. In terms of its physical stature, the plant typically reaches a height of approximately 10 m, with a mean height of 12 m recorded in specific growth contexts.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Shoot orientation :

rambling

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sicyo eduulis is characterized by specific morphological adaptations of its foliage and a distinct metabolic profile. The leaves exhibit a lobed form, serving as the primary site for photosynthetic activity, with dimensions that vary significantly across the plant. Specifically, leaf length ranges from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 31 cm, while the width shows a corresponding range between a minimum of 10 cm and a maximum of 25 cm, with an average width of approximately 20 cm. Despite the substantial surface area provided by these leaves, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a standard water-storage strategy rather than specialized fleshy tissue. Furthermore, its nitrogen metabolism is characterized by a lack of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, meaning the plant relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Leaf form :

lobed

Leaf length max:

31 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width mean:

20 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Sicyo s eduulis involves both sexual and asexual processes, with the sexual phase characterized by a monoecious reproductive system. The plant produces white flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, which undergoes a flowering period typically starting in July and concluding in September. This flowering stage relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While self-fertilization is present, the plant's reproductive cycle culminates in the development of fleshy, green fruits. These fruits vary in size, with a minimum length of 7 cm, a mean length of 11 cm, and a maximum length of up to 20 cm. Each fruit contains between 1 and 10 seeds, which are relatively large, ranging from 50 mm to 100 mm in length and 30 mm to 50 mm in width. The dispersal of these seeds is zoochorous, specifically employing an endozoochorous strategy, where seeds are dispersed through the internal passage of animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit colour :

green

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

20 cm

Fruit length mean:

11 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed length max:

100 mm

Seed length min:

50 mm

Seed width max:

50 mm

Seed width min:

30 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sicyos edulis has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Sicyos edulis has 42 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, COPPER, Calcium (Ca), FAT.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Calcium (Ca)

1. BMC plant biology

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

GABA

1. Dr. Duke

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Glycolipids

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Iron (Fe)

1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Sicyos edulis has 336 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antiobesity, Antioxidant, Antiulcer.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Antiobesity

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Sicyos edulis has 2 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include filtered (FChJ) juice, unfiltered (UFChJ) juice.

Filtered (fchj) juice

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Unfiltered (ufchj) juice

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)