HOUMA, La. (AP) — A Houma man has grown a nearly 5-pound mirliton fruit in his home garden. And, yes — that's pretty big.

Colwart O'Neil tells the Courier (http://bitly.com/Yiij1G ) he suspects the mirliton, also known as chayote, cross-pollinated with an especially robust plant of the same species in his garden.

Mirlitons belong to the gourd family, along with melons, cucumbers and squash, and typically don't weigh more than 8 to 10 ounces.

They are popular among Louisiana cooks, and are often used in casseroles and stuffings.

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Information from: The Courier, http://www.houmatoday.com

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