Gem squash is a variety of summer squash that was domesticated from two wild varieties; Cucurbita texana found in the southern and central United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and Cucurbita fraterna found in Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

. The dark green spherical fruit, when fully ripe, is about the size of a softball

Softball

Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

 (slightly larger than a tennis ball). The fruit needs to be boiled or baked in order to render it palatable. The young fruit is often harvested before it is ripe (about golf ball size) due to its having a more delicate flavour and texture.

Commonly served vegetable in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, often boiled or baked. The cooked gem squash is then generally cut in half, and the inside is commonly covered in butter or brown sugar to enhance flavor.