Turban squash, also known as "Turk's turban" or "French turban" (''"Giraumon"'' in French), is a type of

squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extremely one-sided match in professional wrestling * Squash tennis, a game similar to squash but pla ...

most often used as a

winter squash Winter squash is an annual fruit representing several squash species within the genus ''Cucurbita''. Late-growing, less symmetrical, odd-shaped, rough or warty varieties, small to medium in size, but with long-keeping qualities and hard rinds, are ...

. It is an

heirloom In popular usage, an heirloom is something that has been passed down for generations through family members. Examples are a Family Bible, antiques, weapons or jewellery. The term originated with the historical principle of an heirloom in ...

, predating 1820. A cultivar of ''

Cucurbita maxima ''Cucurbita maxima'', one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species. This species originated in South America from the wild subspecies ''Cucurbita maxima subsp. andreana'' over 4,000 years ago. ...

'', it is closely related to the

buttercup squash ''Cucurbita maxima'', one of at least five species of cultivated squash, is one of the most diverse domesticated species. This species originated in South America from the wild subspecies ''Cucurbita maxima subsp. andreana'' over 4,000 years ago. ...

. It is typically 6 pounds when mature. Colors vary, but are often mottled in shades of orange, red, white and green. The squash is used as both a

vegetable Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...

and as an ornamental

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly ''Cucurbita'' and ''Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the earli ...

. Taste is similar to other '' C. maxima'' cultivars, though "not as vibrant," "reminiscent to

hazelnut The hazelnut is the fruit of the hazel tree and therefore includes any of the nuts deriving from species of the genus ''Corylus'', especially the nuts of the species ''Corylus avellana''. They are also known as cobnuts or filberts according t ...

," and "coarse, watery and insipid." Known in the nineteenth century as "the most beautiful in color, and the most worthless in quality, of all the varieties of squash;" More recently, Ian Knauer, author of "The Farm", has described it as "nutty and sweet".Meatless Mondays: Roasted Turk’s Turban Squash and Onions With Tahini Dressing
/ref> There are two varieties or cultivars: *''Turk's turban'': a medium-sized tricolor gourd with red cap and red, green and white turban. *''Mini red turban'': a small-sized bicolor gourd with red cap and white turban (sometimes with narrow red stripes). Like an

Amanita muscaria ''Amanita muscaria'', commonly known as the fly agaric or fly amanita, is a basidiomycete of the genus ''Amanita''. It is also a muscimol mushroom. Native throughout the temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, ...

mushroom.

References

{{Squashes and pumpkins Squashes and pumpkins