Gourds include the fruits of someflowering plant species in the familyCucurbitaceae, particularlyCucurbita andLagenaria. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. Many gourds have large, bulbous bodies and long necks, such as Dipper Gourds, many variations ofBottle Gourd and caveman club gourds. One of the earliest domesticated types of plants, subspecies of thebottle gourd,Lagenaria siceraria, have been discovered in archaeological sites dating from as early as 13,000 BC. Gourds have had numerous uses throughout history, including as tools, musical instruments, objects of art, film, and food.
Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in thefamily Cucurbitaceae, likepumpkins,cucumbers,zucchinis,squash,luffa, andmelons.[1] More specifically,gourd refers to thefruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae generaLagenaria andCucurbita,[2][3] or also to their hollow, dried-out shell.
There are many different gourds worldwide. The main plants referred to as gourds include several species from the genusCucurbita (mostly native to North America, including theMalabar gourd andturban squash),Crescentia cujete (the tree gourd or calabash tree, native to the American tropics) andLagenaria siceraria (bottle gourd, thought to be originally from Africa but present worldwide).[4][5]: 21 Other plants with gourd in their name include the luffa gourd (likely domesticated in Asia), which includes several species from the genusLuffa, as well as thewax gourd,snake gourd,teasel gourd,hedgehog gourd,buffalo gourd/coyote gourd. Thebitter melon/balsam apple/balsam pear is also sometimes referred to as a gourd.[5]: 18–19, 21
L. siceraria, or bottle gourds, have been found in Peruvian archaeological sites dating from 13,000 to 11,000 BC and Thailand sites from 11,000 to 6,000 BC.[4] A study of bottle gourdDNA published in 2005 suggests that there are two distinct subspecies of bottle gourds, domesticated independently in Africa and Asia, the latter approximately 4,000 years earlier. The gourds found in the Americas appear to have come from the Asian subspecies very early in history, although a new study now indicates Africa.[6] The archaeological and DNA records show it is likely that the gourd was among the first domesticated species, in Asia between 12,000 and 13,000years before present, and possibly the first domesticated plant species.[7]
Wild, poisonous gourds (Citrullus colocynthis) were unknowingly added to the company of prophets' stew according to a story ofElisha in theHebrew Bible. Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it.[8] This interpretation of the verse is disputed byRashi's interpretation,[9] who translates it as poisonous mushrooms, not poisonous gourds.[10]
Gourds continued to be used throughout history in almost every culture throughout the world.European contact in North America found extensive gourd use, including the use of bottle gourds as birdhouses to attractpurple martins, which provided bug control for agriculture[citation needed]. Almost every culture had musical instruments made of gourds, including drums, stringed instruments common to Africa and wind instruments, including thenose flutes of the Pacific.[5]: 23
Scientists in India have been working on crossbreeding six members of theMomordica (bitter gourd) genus found in India to reduce the unpleasant taste while retaining the nutritional and medicinal values of the plants. These includeTeasle gourd (Momordica dioica),Spine gourd (Momordica subangulata), Sweet gourd (Momordica cochinchinensis), balsam apple (Momordica balsamina) andMomordica sahyadrica.[11]
Cultures from arid regions often associategourds with water, and they appear in manycreation myths. Since before human written history, they have had a multitude of uses includingfood storage, cooking tools, toys,musical instruments and decoration.[4] Today, gourds are commonly used for a wide variety of crafts, including jewelry, furniture, dishes, utensils and a wide variety of decorations using carving, burning and other techniques such as lamps and containers for storing objects.[12]
Just one example of a musical instrument is the West AfricanBalafon, axylophone that has gourds attached to the bottom of each note forresonance.[13]
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Gourds have maintained a prominent role in the mythology of numerous cultures. In regard toChristianity, several artists such asFrans Floris andCarlo Crivelli have depicted the gourd as a symbol of the Resurrection of Christ, juxtaposed with the Fruit of Good and Evil that was consumed by Adam and Eve. In theOld Testament of the Christian Bible, a gourd tree was used to shieldJonah from intense weather conditions while he was surveying Nineveh.[14] This terminology is contested by the New King James Version, which simply uses the term plant. InCatholicism, thecalabash and rod that pilgrims on theCamino de Santiago adorn have become synonymous with the image ofRaphael (archangel).
The gourd also makes frequent appearances inChinese mythology. The Chinese god of longevityShouxing is often depicted carrying a staff with a gourd attached to its end.Li Tieguai, one of theEight Immortals is also often depicted with a bottle gourd that contains a special medicine that he uses to aid the sick, poor, or needy. These depictions denote the fruit's significance as a symbol of longevity and the power of medicine within Chinese culture.[15]
