Iskus

Iskus

Iskus (Chayote) is a member of the family Cucurbitaceous vegetable. The name chayote is derived from the vine’s Indian name, Chacha. It is a popular vegetable in N-E hilly region commonly called squash and grows abundantly without much care and attention in high hills of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. Chayote is a perennial rooted cucurbit, with climbing vines and leaves resembling those of the cucumber. The chayote fruit differs from its multi-seeded relatives, in that it contains only a single, flat edible seed. Fruits may be slightly grooved, and its skin may be prickly or smooth.