Opo squash (Lagenaria siceraria), also called bottle gourd or by its Filipino name upo, is a long, pale-green, cylindrical gourd grown widely across South and Southeast Asia. It is sometimes confused with the ridged luffa marketed as "Chinese okra" and with true snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina); despite the similar long shape, all three are different plants. Young, tender squash is used in stir-fries, soups, and curries, while larger, more mature squash is stuffed, roasted, or added to stews; the mild, watery flesh readily absorbs the flavors of garlic, ginger, and other aromatics cooked with it. In the Philippines, upo is a common ingredient in the vegetable stew pinakbet. Choose squash that is firm, unblemished, and brightly colored; smaller specimens are more tender, while larger ones are firmer and more pronounced in flavor.