Marrow, or vegetable marrow, is a popular plant grown for its fruit. It is native to tropical America. The most common type of fruit is green with pale-green or yellow stripes. But fruits grow in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Marrows are picked when still unripe and about 12 to 15 inches (30 to 40 centimeters) long. The tender flesh may be eaten either boiled or roasted.
Marrows have large leaves and big yellow flowers. They also have special wirelike leaves called tendrils. Some climbing marrows use these to cling to supports. Marrows belong to the same family as zucchini and as some pumpkins and gourds.