What is a gourd? Well, the definition of “gourd” is complicated, because it’s the name of a family of vegetables – but gourds are also one of the vegetables that live within that family! So the question is a, um, really gourd one.

I’m here to break it down for you.

Decorative gourds & squashes

Table of Contents

The Science of Naming Gourds

The scientific name for the gourd family is Cucurbitaceae, and within that family lies the Cucurbita genus. The Cucurbita genus includes squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, melons, luffa (you know, loofah sponges?!) and … gourds.

And then you have another genus within the Cucurbitaceae family, the Lagenaria genus, which also contains gourds – mostly ornamental, which look festive in fall displays but are not good for eating.

Gourd Taxonomy

  • Kingdom: Plantae
    • Phylum: Spermatophyta
      • Class: Angiospermae (aka Magnoliopsida)
        • Subclass: Dicotyledoneae
          • Family: Cucurbitaceae (also called Cucurbits or Gourd Family)
            • Genus: Cucurbita (squash, pumpkin, gourds, and some decorative gourds)
              • Species: Cucurbita pepo (such as Acorn, Delicata, Spaghetti Squash, Summer Squashes, and most typical orange pumpkins)
              • Species: Cucurbita maxima (such as Hubbard, Turk’s Turban)
              • Species: Cucurbita moschata (such as Butternut and Long Island Cheese Pumpkin)
              • Other species: Cucurbita argyrosperma, Cucurbita digitata, Cucurbita ficifolia, Cucurbita foetidissima, Cucurbita okeechobeensis, and Cucurbita palmata, many of which contain various types of gourds.
            • Genus: Lagenaria (mostly decorative gourds)
              • Species: Lagenaria siceraria (bottle gourds, birdhouse gourds, dipper gourds, calabash)

So, What IS a Gourd, in Plain Speak?

A gourd can be one of four things:

  1. The name of the family, Cucurbitaceae, that squash, pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers, and melons reside within
  2. One of the many hard-shelled fruits (yes, they’re a fruit!) that live within the gourd family
  3. Another word for pumpkin or squash
  4. A decorative gourd that is excellent for autumn displays but not for eating
Decorative gourds & squashes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a gourd vs. pumpkin?

Pumpkins and decorative gourds both live within the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, but are different genuses and/or species. Pumpkins are generally edible, while decorative gourds have a very hard shell and inedible flesh – not for eating.

Is a gourd a zucchini?

No, but zucchini is a gourd! Zucchini is a part of the Cucurbita pepo species, which lives within the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) scientific family.

Are cucumbers a gourd?

Yes, in that they live within the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family. From there, cucumbers branch off from other gourd counterparts like decorative gourds, squashes, and pumpkins. Cucumber’s scientific classification drills down to the Cucumis genus and C. sativus species.

Can you eat gourds?

Decorative gourds – those lumpy, bumpy, cute, hard-shelled gourds – are not meant for eating. But most types of squashes and pumpkins, which live within the gourd family, are generally for eating.

In Conclusion …

I think we might have also inadvertently learned about the origin of the idiom “losing your gourd” … does it perhaps have to do with wrapping one’s brain around the actual definition of the word “gourd?!” 🤯

Sources: Utah State University, Introduction to Vegetable Classification by Family Groups and Growth Habits by Larry A. Saggers | ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System (a fun rabbit hole if you want to dive deep into botanical classification!)

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