Calabaza (or Calabasa) is an ol Spanish term that can be applied to a variety of gourds and melons. It is derived from the Persian term for melon (kharbuz}. The French term "calabase", and hence "calabash" is based on the older Spanish. In common use the French term "calabash" refers to a gourd native to the African continent, while "calabaza" refers to a gourd native to the Americas. In North America, the word "calabaza" refers to any of several species of tropical gourds of the genus Cucurbita. Two common species native to the Caribbean are C. moschata and C. maxima. The widespread species Cucurbita foetidissima specifically identifies "calabaza" as one of its common names. The Spanish "calabacera frasco" [literal translation; bottle-shaped gourd] refers specifically to Cucurbita foetidissima. Local names for "large green or yellow gourds" inlude "auyama" (Venezula), "ayote" (Central America), "abrbora" (Brazil), and "zapallo" much of South America.