Acorn squash also called pepper squash or Des Moines squash, is a winter squash

Winter squash

Winter squash is a summer-growing annual vegetable, representing several species within the genus Cucurbita. It differs from summer squash in that it is harvested and eaten in the mature fruit stage, when the seeds within have matured fully and the skin has hardened into a tough rind. At this...

 with distinctive longitudinal ridges and sweet, yellow-orange flesh

Flesh

In vertebrate animals, flesh is the colloquial for biological tissue which consists of skeletal muscles and fat as opposed to bones, viscera and integuments. Flesh may be used as food, in which case it is called meat....

. Although considered a winter squash, acorn squash belongs to the same species as all summer squash

Summer Squash

Summer squash are a subset of squashes that are harvested when immature . All summer squashes are the fruits of the species Cucurbita pepo , but they are considered vegetables in terms of culinary use...

es (including zucchini

Zucchini

The zucchini is a summer squash which often grows to nearly a meter in length, but which is usually harvested at half that size or less. It is a hybrid of the cucumber. Along with certain other squashes, it belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo. Zucchini can be dark or light green...

 and yellow crookneck squash

Yellow crookneck squash

Yellow crookneck squash is one of many cultivated Cucurbita pepo, the gourd species that includes zucchini and pumpkin. This is a variety of summer squash with bumpy, yellow skin and sweet flesh. Its name distinguishes it from its close relative, the yellow summer squash, which has a straight neck...

).

The most common variety is dark green in color, often with a single splotch of orange on the side or top. However, newer varieties have arisen including Golden Acorn, for its glowing yellow colour, and some that are white.