What Even Are Gourds? Here's What Modern Science Has Told Us
October 26, 2016 at 10:41 am
It's Gourd Week, a special time on UTB where we will be educating the public on the important topics that will shape the future. This week, we will be focusing on gourds.
What even is a gourd? A gourd is a pretty loose term for the fruits of the family Cucurbitaceae. To narrow it down, gourds specifically refer to the fruits of the Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita, as well as from the genus siceraria. Gourd experts believe gourds to be one of the earliest domesticated plants, with some species having been discovered in archeological sites dating back from 13,000 BC.
Many gourds are both edible and delicious, such as pumpkins, cucumbers, and even melons (we were also surprised to learn that melons were from the family Cucurbitaceae).
Now that you know the basics of gourds, you can go out into the world just a tad bit more informed. Stay tuned for our next installment, a showcase on butternut squash.