Gourd Types

                                  

What is a gourd?  A gourd is a fruit in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes edible and inedible gourds.  Squashes, pumpkins, cucumber are the examples of the edible members of this family. The inedible part of this family are as follows:

There are three types of gourds:

            Hard-shell Gourds

                        The fruit has a white flower for pollination; the fruit is green on the vine.

                        The fruit dehydrates to a tan/brown color.

                        Used for art and crafting.

                        Will not rot if dehydrated properly.

            Ornamental or soft-shell gourds.

                        Colorful shells

                        Used for fall decorating.

                        Hard to dry/dehydrate, many rot.

            Luffa or vegetable sponge gourds.

For the purposes of this blog, we will be discussing the Hard-shell gourds used for art, utility, and crafts.  When dehydrated properly the outer shell becomes like wood.  There are over 30 types of hard-shell gourds (see charts by Dan Dunkin - as you will see, gourds take the name of the purpose they were used for, or for their distinctive shape.)