Gem squash
{{Short description|Variety of summer squash}}
Gem squash (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo){{cite web|url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/PGR/article-issue_126-art_7-lang_en.html|last=Paris|first=H. S.|title=Characterization of the Cucurbita pepo collection at the Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Israel|publisher=Plant Genetics Resources Newsletter|access-date=January 31, 2015}} is a variety of summer squash that may have been domesticated from two wild varieties; Cucurbita texana found in the southern and central United States and Cucurbita fraterna found in Mexico.{{cite book|title=Historical geography of crop plants - a select roster|first=Jonathan D.|last=Sauer|publisher=CRC Press|location=Boca Raton, Florida|year=1993|isbn=0849389011}} It bears notable similarities to Tatume squash or Calabacita, a Cucurbita pepo variety widely grown in Mexico and parts of Texas with a similar vining or climbing and fruiting habit https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/newsletters/hortupdate/2010/jun/tatume.html The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a tennis ball. The young fruit is often harvested before it is fully ripe when it has a more delicate texture and flavor.{{cite web|url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/PGR/tables/table7-126.htm|title=Table 7-126|publisher=Biodiversity International|access-date=January 31, 2015}}
Gem squash is grown widely in South Africa, and is commonly served as a vegetable, often boiled or baked.{{cite web | url=https://southafrica.co.za/gem-squash.html | title=Gem Squash }}