Gourd (plural gourds), also known as a cucurbit, is a generic term used to refer to fruits of the cucurbitaceae family. Though, it is generally used to refer to the edible fruits of the family, such as, cucumber, squash, luffa, pumpkin or melon, it is specifically used to refer to the inedible fruits of the Lagenaria and Cucurbita genres, the hard rinds are dried to make instruments, utensils and ornaments. A single fruit of the family is called a gourd, while a number of fruits of the same species or different species, but belonging to the cucurbitaceae family may be referred to as gourds. The edible varieties are better known as squashes.
The gourd family is one of the largest comprising 700 species and a hundred genera. The plants of the family are vines with coiled and climbing tendrils. The family is one of the most diverse plant families and its members exhibit a large range of differences in terms of their appearance. They vary greatly in their shapes and sizes. Some of them are extremely small, such as, the marble-sized Carribean jumbie pumpkin, while others, such as, the giant gourds, are about seven feet long! The largest fruits of the world are from this very family.
History of Culinary Usage of Gourds
Unlike many other fruits, the gourd has been used since historical times, not only for culinary purposes, but also for other purposes, such as, aesthetic and instrumental purposes. Cucurbits were used for thousands of years all over the world for culinary purpose, the Native Americans being one of its early users. The cultivation of the gourd dates back to 8,000 B.P. The hard shelled gourds are used for decorative purposes, while the soft shelled ones are used for culinary purposes. Pumpkins and squashes have a soft exterior, and therefore, they can be easily cut, peeled or cooked. The early users of the cucurbit, such as the Native Americans, made medicinal preparations from it.
Gourd Types
The basic classification of gourds is broad and includes both the edible and inedible gourds. The categories are as mentioned below:
Edible Gourd Types
Edible gourds are better known as squashes of which there are many varieties as described below:
Nutrition Information and Health Benefits of Gourds
Among gourds, the bitter gourd and the bottle gourd are found to have properties which are beneficial to the human health. The bitter gourd is an excellent source of B vitamins B1, B2, B3, Vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and dietary fiber. It is good source of iron. Broccoli, banana and spinach are found to have only half as much of beta-carotene, potassium or calcimum contained in the bitter gourd, which is also known as the bitter melon. It is found to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, toxemia, blood disorders, eye disorders, piles, psoriasis.
The bottle gourd is another gourd which has been attributed therapeutic benefits by Ayurvedic sciences. This low-fat and low-cholesterol fruit is recommended for heart health. It is known to have a soothing effect on stomach ulcers. It is a good source of vitamins B and C and one of the excellent sources of iron.
Though generally of good nutritive worth, the medicinal worth of gourds, as stated by practitioners of alternative medicine, needs to be established by the conventional medical studies.
Trivia
Gourds are undisputedly the largest and heaviest fruits of the world. For a long time, the pumpkin and the suash have contested with each other for the title of the largest fruit in various competitions. According to a 2002 report, the largest pumpkin of the world happens to be a Manchester, New Hampshire one, which weighs an incredible 1337 pounds.