Are gourds edible, sumptuous and healthy?
Spine gourd is a perennial climber with a long vine with tendrils. Its flower, leaves, and roots are also edible. This variety of gourds grows well in tropical climates, mainly in the period February-March. Being low in calories and high in fibers, spine gourd is an ideal choice for diet food.
What can you do with a gourd?
- HOUSE A BIRD. Photo: gonzalesmastergardeners.org. It's fun and easy to make a birdhouse from a hollowed-out gourd.
- HANG A GARLAND. Photo: asoftplace.net.
- MAKE A LANTERN. Photo: makezine.com.
- CARVE A JACK-O'-LANTERN. Photo: southernliving.com.
- CRAFT A CANTEEN. Photo: stormdrane.blogspot.com.
What are some common uses for gourds?
What Are Gourds Used For?
- Gourds as Decorations. Since they have extremely tough outer shells, gourds can be placed inside a person's home as decorative items without much risk of them rotting or making a ...
- Other Uses. Gourds are unique in the vegetable world in that they can be used for many creative purposes after harvesting and drying out.
- Harvesting Gourds. ...
Is bitter gourd the healthiest vegetable?
Bitter gourd is one amongst the healthiest vegetables within the food kingdom. It is stuffed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is often eaten as a vegetable, pickle or as a juice. There are many benefits of normal consumption of bitter gourd. There are variety of the health benefits of bitter gourd.
Which vegetables are gourds?
Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, like pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, luffa, and melons. More specifically, gourd refers to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita, or also to their hollow, dried-out shell.
What category is a gourd?
The gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, encompasses five vegetable crops of worldwide importance, the melons, cucumbers, watermelons, squash, and pumpkins. These five crops belong to three genera, Cucumis, Citrullus, and Cucurbita, and originated in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
What vegetable belongs to the gourd family?
The Gourd Family (Cucurbitaceae) Including squash, pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, watermelon, and cantaloupe. Overview-These are a group of ornamental trailing or climbing plants. They are sometimes called the "vine vegetables".
Is gourd same as zucchini?
Cucuzzi and Snake Gourd are also called Snake Squash and Bottle Gourd. They are used much like zucchini, but they are, a different genus from squash. They are used at the same stage of maturity as zucchini and summer squash. The flavor is quite distinct, although somewhat reminiscent of zucchini.
What's the difference between a gourd and a pumpkin?
The word "pumpkin" doesn't really pertain to much, botanically. Pumpkins are just a type of squash, as is butternut squash or acorn squash. The word "gourd," on the other hand, is meant to represent a different branch of the Cucurbitaceae family.
What's the difference between a gourd and a squash?
The main difference between squash (includes pumpkins) and gourds is that squash is grown and harvested to eat while gourds are grown and cultivated for decoration purposes. The first squash is said to have been planted in Mexico about 10,000 years ago! Native Americans harvested them too.
Is a cucumber a gourd?
Formally known by their scientific name Cucumis sativus, cucumbers are a member of the gourd, or Cucurbitaceae, family of plants ( 1 ). They originated in various parts of Southeast Asia but are currently grown all over the world.
Is a cantaloupe a gourd?
Muskmelon, also known as Cucumis melo, is a species of melon that belongs to the gourd family. It's closely related to other plants like squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and watermelon ( 1 ).
Is a watermelon a gourd?
Watermelon is a member of the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds (classified as Citrullus lantus), related to the cucumber, squash and pumpkin. It is planted from seeds or seedlings, harvested, and then cleared from the field like other vegetables.
What foods are considered gourds?
Some edible gourds include:Acorn squash.Watermelon.Field pumpkin.Butternut squash.Bitter melon.Calabash (bottle gourd)
What is an example of a gourd?
Common gourd species include the yellow-flowered gourd (Cucurbita pepo, subspecies ovifera) and the bottle gourd, or calabash (Lagenaria siceraria), which is frequently used for containers and other items.
What is similar to gourd?
Gourds, like pumpkins, melons, squash and cucumbers, are members of the cucurbit or squash family. Like their cousins, gourds grow on long vines.
What foods are considered gourds?
Some edible gourds include:Acorn squash.Watermelon.Field pumpkin.Butternut squash.Bitter melon.Calabash (bottle gourd)
What is an example of a gourd?
Common gourd species include the yellow-flowered gourd (Cucurbita pepo, subspecies ovifera) and the bottle gourd, or calabash (Lagenaria siceraria), which is frequently used for containers and other items.
Are gourds berries?
The elongated tough-skinned fruits of the family Cucurbitaceae, including watermelons, cucumbers, and gourds, are a type of berry referred to as pepos. Any small fleshy fruit is popularly called a berry, especially if it is edible.
What is a gourd used for in indigenous religion?
Though the forms and functions of decorated and undecorated gourds vary from one African culture to another, their contexts are similar. For many of them are used for serving drinks and for storing sacred concoctions.
What are gourds used for?
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. Calabash gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, used for drinking mate.
What are the bitter gourds?
These include Teasle gourd ( Momordica dioica), Spine gourd ( Momordica subangulata ), Sweet gourd ( Momordica cochinchinensis ), balsam apple ( Momordica balsamina) and Momordica sahyadrica.
What is a gourd?
Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, like pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, luffa, and melons. More specifically, gourd refers to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita, or also to their hollow, dried-out shell.
What are the uses of a shape gourd?
Shaped gourds had various decorative uses, especially as boxes, bottles and other containers. The Luffa gourds, Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula, have been used throughout recent history as scrubbing sponge and strainer. This is prepared by removing the skin and pulp from the gourd, and bleaching the fibers.
Why did Elisha add flour to the stew?
Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it.
When were bottle gourds first used?
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.
What is a sitar made of?
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.
What is a hard shell gourd?
Hardshell gourds are Lagenaria siceraria which means “drinking vessel” since that is one of the many uses. Speckled swan gourds, bottle gourds, dipper gourds, penguin or powderhorn gourds, and even one called caveman’s club are all Lagenarias. Hard-shelled gourds will last for several years and have been grown for over five thousand years for use as containers and utensils, and the immature gourds are edible. Even today, these types have many uses, including birdhouses, storage vessels, dippers, or ornaments.
How long do gourds last?
Hard-shelled gourds will last for several years and have been grown for over five thousand years for use as containers and utensils, and the immature gourds are edible. Even today, these types have many uses, including birdhouses, storage vessels, dippers, or ornaments. Image: Bottle gourds, Lagenaria siceraria.
What is a sponge gourd?
Sponge Gourds. Luffa aegyptiaca or L. cylindrical is the well-known bath sponge! Many people think Luffas are sponges from the sea, but these vegetable sponges related to cucumbers. Left to mature and dry, the outer shell is scraped off and the scratchy inner fiber makes a great scrubby!
What are some ornamental gourds?
Ornamental Gourds. Cucurbita pepo are the cute, colorful little ornamental gourds that make good decorations. They are soft-shelled gourds that are closely related to squash. An American native, Cu curbita types come in unusual shapes and textures: smooth, warty, plain, patterned, ridged, striped.
How tall do gourds grow?
They can grow to a height of 6 to 10 feet. I recommend a ruggled trellis or arbor around a garden bed. Think PVC pipes and netting. You can plant some other vegetables within the gourds while the gourds grow around the trellis around your bed.
What is the oldest plant?
Gourds are among the oldest cultivated plants. They were the early water bottles of the Egyptians, and have been used for utensils, storage containers, and dippers for centuries. Botanically speaking, there’s really no difference between gourds, squash, and pumpkins. They all belong to the family Cucurbitaceae. And they’re all frost-tender.
What are snake gourds used for?
Snake gourds used ornamentally to decorate an arbor.
What are Gourds?
If a zucchini and decorative gourd look similar, what is a gourd exactly? Scroll through each section to discover how unique these gourd plants are compared to other veggies that grow in your garden.
What is a Gourd?
According to Britannica, a gourd is a hard-shelled fruit belonging to the gourd family, also known as members of the Cucurbitaceae family. The most common type of gourd is the yellow-flowered gourd, the Cucurbita pepo, and belonging to the subspecies ovifera.
Different Gourd Varieties
There are so many unusual gourds in the world that you likely haven’t heard about. Read through some of the most common gourds, and you’ll probably still discover at least a few new varieties of gourds.
What can you do with a gourd?
Gourds are wonderful and are extremely multipurpose, they can be used decoratively, functionally as a musical instrument, but can also be burned, carved, painted and stained.
Where are gourd shakers made?
Gourd shakers are traditionally made in West Africa, this percussions instrument is dried, and then has beads attached to a netting that is placed on the outside of the gourd. When the instrument is being shaken, the beads hit the outside which in turns makes for a rhythmic sound. For extra style and also for protection, most handles will have some type of woven band around the neck of the instrument so that you can put your hand through to avoid dropping it and of course to look good!
Can you make a shaker out of a gourd?
You can even carve pieces out of the dried gourd to make your very own jewellery crafts. A gourd can be made into many types of shaker including a beaded maraca, regular maraca, or shekere, they also make for a good guiro, if you have the skills!
What is a Gourd?
Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, gourds are the trailing and climbing vines, covered with triangular lobed foliage. The yellow and white flowers appear on this vine that eventually turns into a greenish plump fruit.
What is the name of the gourd that grows on a trellis?
Botanical name: Trichosanthes dioica. Grown on the trellis, this is one of the most appreciated gourds of India. Its perennial vine produces green fruits with white or no stripes, that are good sources of fiber and vitamins. This mildly flavored gourd has crunchy seeds that are wrapped under the mushy flesh.
What is the botanical name for a sponge gourd?
Sponge Gourd or Luffa. Botanical name: Luffa cylindrica. Luffa refers to the two species of the gourd, one is cyclindrica (smooth) and the other is aegyptiaca (ridged). Smooth Luffa has small, rounded fruit whereas Ridged ones have bigger fruits with long ridges.
How long does it take for an apple gourd to grow?
Its vine starts bearing this gourd within 60-70 days from its planting.
What is a gourd vine?
Belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, gourds are the trailing and climbing vines, covered with triangular lobed foliage. The yellow and white flowers appear on this vine that eventually turns into a greenish plump fruit. These fruits should be harvested green when the stem turns dry and brown before they are over ripen.
What are the different types of gourds?
There are three types of gourds that are generally grown by gardeners-ornamental, utilitarian, and vegetable gourds. The best perk of growing vegetable gourd is that you can use its fresh and nutritious fruits instantly and use it in a multitude of recipes. Below is a list of different types of gourds that are edible and generally eaten as ...
When do spine gourds grow?
Its flower, leaves, and roots are also edible. This variety of gourds grows well in tropical climates, mainly in the period February-March.
What Are Gourds, and Which Types Are Edible?
The gourd family consists of hundreds of species. Gourds are grown on vines and tend to have unusual shapes, colors and patterns. They range in size, though some varieties can weigh up to hundreds of pounds. Some gourds are edible, and some are not.
How to scoop a gourd?
Once the shell is removed, slice the gourd in half, revealing the spongy center. Then, scoop the spongy center that's usually filled with seeds.
How to peel a gourd?
Try using a vegetable peeler, but if the skin is too hard, use a paring knife to remove the gourd's skin from its white flesh. Slice the peeled gourd in half and scoop out the spongy, seed-filled center, then chop the rest of the flesh into cubes the size of sugar cubes or slice it thinly. Cook the pieces in boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they're fork-tender.
What is the best way to eat gourds?
Squash recipes are the perfect introduction to eating gourds. Squash is low in fat and calories yet full of flavor. It's a versatile food that can be used in soups, stews, chilis and more. Roasted squash, maple-glazed squash and stuffed squash are all tasty ways to eat gourds.
What are bottle gourds used for?
It's a staple in some curry and dal recipes. In Chinese cuisine, bottle gourds are used in soups and stir-fries.
What family is a gourd?
Gourds are in the plant family cucurbit, and these fruits have hard shells when mature, according to Desert Botanical Garden. Many are used for inedible purposes as the shell is hard and bitter, though a selection can be peeled, cooked and enjoyed.
How long to bake a gourd?
Bake the gourd at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 50 minutes depending on the type and size of the gourd.
Overview
Terminology
Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, like pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, luffa, and melons. More specifically, gourd refers to the fruits of plants in the two Cucurbitaceae genera Lagenaria and Cucurbita, or also to their hollow, dried-out shell.
There are many different gourds worldwide. The main plants referred to as go…
History
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. 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 …
Research
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) a…
Uses
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. Today, gourds are commonly used for a wide variety of crafts, including jewelry, furniture, dishes, utensils and a wide variety of decorations u…
See also
• 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.
Citations
1. ^ Andres, T. C. (2004). "Cucurbitaceae". 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.
General bibliography
• 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] SbCH2C(O)OEt} 2[Hg2I6] and {[2,6−(OMe)2C6H3]3SBME} 2[HgI4] ⋅DMSO: Synthesis and Structure". Russian Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 64 (1): 28–35. doi:10.1134/s0036023619010078. ISSN 0036-0236. S2CID 199447333.