What is a Gourd Anyway?…

A gourd is a plant that has a history for several uses.  There are three main types of gourds: cucurbita, or ornamental, the largenaria, or hard-shell and the Loofa or vegetable sponge.

The cucurbita or ornamentals are the familiar colorful gourds of fall arrangements.  The vines produce large orange-colored blossoms and bloom in the daytime.  Some of the many kinds of ornamentals are crown of thorns, pear, orange, egg, spoon and warties.

The Lagenaria of hard-shells are usually larger gourds, and the vines produce white blossoms which bloom at night.  Largenaria are green when growing on the vine, and have thick, hard shells when dry.  Once dried, they’re used for many types of craft work.  Some varieties of hard-shells are dipper, bushel, bottle, birdhouse, and maranka.

Loofas, unlike other gourds have an easily removed outer shell, and are important for their tough fibrous interior, which are used commercially as sponges.  The yellow flowered vines bloom during the day.

History:  some of the earliest specimens are found in Africa, botanist believe that the gourds drifted on the ocean currents to various locations the Western Hemisphere including South America, and Florida.

Uses: The seeds in many primitive cultures were used as food as they are high in the protein and oils.  The root of the gourd has also been used for medicinal uses in primitive cultures.  The most common uses are containers and vessels, many people can remember their parents using dipper gourds as ladles at their wells.

Musical instruments are frequently formed from gourds.  Drums, rattles and string instruments.  Shamans use them as containers for holy relics and alter pieces.