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Gourd

February 15, 2024

For other uses, see Gourd (disambiguation).

Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly Cucurbita and Lagenaria. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the earliest domesticated types of plants, subspecies of the bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, have been discovered in archaeological sites dating from as early as 13,000 BCE. Gourds have had numerous uses throughout history, including as tools, musical instruments, objects of art, film, and food.

Gourds at a market in Massachusetts

Terminology edit

 
Cucurbita pepo gourds grown in a suburban garden in Australia

Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, like pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, luffa, and melons.[1] More specifically, gourd refers to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita,[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 genus Cucurbita (mostly native to North America, including the Malabar gourd and turban squash), Crescentia cujete (the tree gourd or calabash tree, native to the American tropics) and Lagenaria 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 genus Luffa, as well as the wax gourd, snake gourd, teasel gourd, hedgehog gourd, buffalo gourd/coyote gourd. The bitter melon/balsam apple/balsam pear is also sometimes referred to as a gourd.[5]: 18–19, 21 

History edit

L. siceraria or bottle gourd, are native to the Americas, being found in Peruvian archaeological sites dating from 13,000 to 11,000 BCE and Thailand sites from 11,000 to 6,000 BCE.[4] A study of bottle gourd DNA 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 13,000 years 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 of Elisha in the Hebrew Bible. Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it.[8]

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 attract purple martins, which provided bug control for agriculture. Almost every culture had musical instruments made of gourds, including drums, stringed instruments common to Africa and wind instruments, including the nose flutes of the Pacific.[5]: 23 

Research edit

 
An Indian gourd

Scientists in India have been working on crossbreeding six members of the Momordica (bitter gourd) genus found in India to reduce the unpleasant taste while retaining the nutritional and medicinal values of the plants. These include Teasle gourd (Momordica dioica), Spine gourd (Momordica subangulata), Sweet gourd (Momordica cochinchinensis), balsam apple (Momordica balsamina) and Momordica sahyadrica.[9]

Uses edit

Cultures from arid regions often associated gourds with water, and they appear in many creation myths. Since the beginning of their history, they have had a multitude of uses, including food, kitchen 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.[10]

Gourds are also used in instruments. For example, the Balafon, a West-African percussion instrument, is a xylophone that has gourds attached to the bottom of each note for resonance.[11]

  •  
    Calabash gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, used for drinking mate
  •  
    Chinese snuff bottle (biyanhu) with body from a moulded gourd, and a jade stopper
  •  
    A fixed-key balafon, showing gourd resonators with membrane holes

See also edit

  • A güiro is a Latin American percussion instrument made from a gourd.
  • Maracas are percussion instruments often made from gourds.
  • A sitar is a plucked stringed instrument, parts of which are made from gourds.
  • African percussion instruments are made incorporating gourds, including the shekere, axatse, balafon, and caxixi.
  • Salakot, a traditional headgear of the Philippines which can be made from the bottle gourd

Citations edit

  1. ^ Andres, T. C. (2004). . The Cucurbit Network. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  2. ^ Paris, Harry S. (October 1989). "Historical records, origins, and development of the edible cultivar groups of Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae)". Economic Botany. 43 (4): 423–443. doi:10.1007/BF02935916. S2CID 29052282.
  3. ^ Cutler, Hugh C.; Whitaker, Thomas W. (April 1961). (PDF). American Antiquity. 26 (4): 469–485. doi:10.2307/278735. JSTOR 278735. S2CID 161495351. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-12.
  4. ^ a b c Prance, Ghillean; Nesbitt, Mark, eds. (2012). The Cultural History of Plants. Routledge. pp. 21, 348. ISBN 978-1135958107.
  5. ^ a b c Summit, Ginger (2001). Gourds in Your Garden: A Guidebook for the Home Gardener. Sterling Publishing Company. ISBN 0806926996.
  6. ^ Wade, Lizzie (2014-02-10). "Scientists Solve Mystery of World-Traveling Plant". Science. from the original on 2018-06-15.
  7. ^ Erickson, David L.; Smith, Bruce D.; Clarke, Andrew C.; Sandweiss, Daniel H.; Tuross, Noreen (2005). "An Asian origin for a 10,000-year-old domesticated plant in the Americas" (PDF). PNAS. 102 (51): 18315–18320. Bibcode:2005PNAS..10218315E. doi:10.1073/pnas.0509279102. PMC 1311910. PMID 16352716.
  8. ^ 2 Kings 4:38–41
  9. ^ S., Indu Mathi (2012-09-30). "Bitter gets better". Down To Earth. from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
  10. ^ Baskett, Mickey (2005). Glorious Gourd Decorating. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 9. ISBN 1402727755.
  11. ^ Gourlay, K. A.; Durán, Lucy (2001). "Balo". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.01914. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.

General bibliography edit

  • Egorova, I. V.; Zhidkov, V. V.; Grinishak, I. P.; Bagryanskaya, I. Yu.; Pervukhina, N. V.; El'tsov, I. V.; Kurat'eva, N. V. (January 2019). "Antimony Complexes {[2,6−(OMe)2C6H3]3SbCH2C(O)OEt}+2[Hg2I6]2−and {[2,6−(OMe)2C6H3]3SBME}+2[HgI4]2−⋅DMSO: Synthesis and Structure". Russian Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 64 (1): 28–35. doi:10.1134/s0036023619010078. ISSN 0036-0236. S2CID 199447333.[relevant?]

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourds.

February 15, 2024
gourd, other, uses, disambiguation, include, fruits, some, flowering, plant, species, family, cucurbitaceae, particularly, cucurbita, lagenaria, term, refers, number, species, subspecies, many, with, hard, shells, some, without, earliest, domesticated, types, . For other uses see Gourd disambiguation Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae particularly Cucurbita and Lagenaria The term refers to a number of species and subspecies many with hard shells and some without One of the earliest domesticated types of plants subspecies of the bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria have been discovered in archaeological sites dating from as early as 13 000 BCE Gourds have had numerous uses throughout history including as tools musical instruments objects of art film and food Gourds at a market in Massachusetts Contents 1 Terminology 2 History 3 Research 4 Uses 5 See also 6 Citations 7 General bibliography 8 External linksTerminology edit nbsp Cucurbita pepo gourds grown in a suburban garden in AustraliaGourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae like pumpkins cucumbers squash luffa and melons 1 More specifically gourd refers to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita 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 genus Cucurbita mostly native to North America including the Malabar gourd and turban squash Crescentia cujete the tree gourd or calabash tree native to the American tropics and Lagenaria 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 genus Luffa as well as the wax gourd snake gourd teasel gourd hedgehog gourd buffalo gourd coyote gourd The bitter melon balsam apple balsam pear is also sometimes referred to as a gourd 5 18 19 21 History editL siceraria or bottle gourd are native to the Americas being found in Peruvian archaeological sites dating from 13 000 to 11 000 BCE and Thailand sites from 11 000 to 6 000 BCE 4 A study of bottle gourd DNA 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 13 000 years 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 of Elisha in the Hebrew Bible Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it 8 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 attract purple martins which provided bug control for agriculture Almost every culture had musical instruments made of gourds including drums stringed instruments common to Africa and wind instruments including the nose flutes of the Pacific 5 23 Research edit nbsp An Indian gourdScientists in India have been working on crossbreeding six members of the Momordica bitter gourd genus found in India to reduce the unpleasant taste while retaining the nutritional and medicinal values of the plants These include Teasle gourd Momordica dioica Spine gourd Momordica subangulata Sweet gourd Momordica cochinchinensis balsam apple Momordica balsamina and Momordica sahyadrica 9 Uses editCultures from arid regions often associated gourds with water and they appear in many creation myths Since the beginning of their history they have had a multitude of uses including food kitchen 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 10 Gourds are also used in instruments For example the Balafon a West African percussion instrument is a xylophone that has gourds attached to the bottom of each note for resonance 11 nbsp Calabash gourd Lagenaria siceraria used for drinking mate nbsp Chinese snuff bottle biyanhu with body from a moulded gourd and a jade stopper nbsp A fixed key balafon showing gourd resonators with membrane holesSee also editA guiro is a Latin American percussion instrument made from a gourd Maracas are percussion instruments often made from gourds A sitar is a plucked stringed instrument parts of which are made from gourds African percussion instruments are made incorporating gourds including the shekere axatse balafon and caxixi Salakot a traditional headgear of the Philippines which can be made from the bottle gourdCitations edit Andres T C 2004 Cucurbitaceae The Cucurbit Network Archived from the original on 2011 10 28 Retrieved 2011 10 24 Paris Harry S October 1989 Historical records origins and development of the edible cultivar groups of Cucurbita pepo Cucurbitaceae Economic Botany 43 4 423 443 doi 10 1007 BF02935916 S2CID 29052282 Cutler Hugh C Whitaker Thomas W April 1961 History and Distribution of the Cultivated Cucurbits in the Americas PDF American Antiquity 26 4 469 485 doi 10 2307 278735 JSTOR 278735 S2CID 161495351 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 05 12 a b c Prance Ghillean Nesbitt Mark eds 2012 The Cultural History of Plants Routledge pp 21 348 ISBN 978 1135958107 a b c Summit Ginger 2001 Gourds in Your Garden A Guidebook for the Home Gardener Sterling Publishing Company ISBN 0806926996 Wade Lizzie 2014 02 10 Scientists Solve Mystery of World Traveling Plant Science Archived from the original on 2018 06 15 Erickson David L Smith Bruce D Clarke Andrew C Sandweiss Daniel H Tuross Noreen 2005 An Asian origin for a 10 000 year old domesticated plant in the Americas PDF PNAS 102 51 18315 18320 Bibcode 2005PNAS 10218315E doi 10 1073 pnas 0509279102 PMC 1311910 PMID 16352716 2 Kings 4 38 41 S Indu Mathi 2012 09 30 Bitter gets better Down To Earth Archived from the original on 2012 10 22 Retrieved 2012 12 21 Baskett Mickey 2005 Glorious Gourd Decorating Sterling Publishing Company Inc p 9 ISBN 1402727755 Gourlay K A Duran Lucy 2001 Balo Grove Music Online Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 01914 ISBN 978 1 56159 263 0 General bibliography editEgorova I V Zhidkov V V Grinishak I P Bagryanskaya I Yu Pervukhina N V El tsov I V Kurat eva N V January 2019 Antimony Complexes 2 6 OMe 2C6H3 3SbCH2C O OEt 2 Hg2I6 2 and 2 6 OMe 2C6H3 3SBME 2 HgI4 2 DMSO Synthesis and Structure Russian Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 64 1 28 35 doi 10 1134 s0036023619010078 ISSN 0036 0236 S2CID 199447333 relevant External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gourds Gourd Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed 1911 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gourd amp oldid 1189478483, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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