Marrows are part of the gourd family. They are native to South and Middle America. In these areas at first, and later across the world when seeds were taken, they have become an important vegetable. Some kinds of gourd are called squash or pumpkin, but the large green ones with soft skins are called marrows.

The plants grow on vines, either up other plants, or, for large fruited varieties like marrows, across the ground. The flowers are yellow or orange. There are two types of flowers: the female flowers that produce the fruit and the male flowers that produce pollen.

They are good sources of vitamin A, vitamin C and dietary fibre.

Small varieties are known as courgettes in Europe and Zucchini in North America.