Other names: vegetable pear, chcocho, christophene (France), mirlton
Pronounced [chah-YOH-teh] The chayote is another native Mexican plant and is a member of the squash family. It is also referred to as a "vegetable pear" or chcocho. In France the chayote is called a christophene. The flesh is quite crisp something like a water chestnut. Chayotes come in two common varieties, the smooth variety shown and a prickly variety (covered in spines).