Besides being one of the first cultivated plants, they are the only plants grown all over the world. But you've probably tasted a few of their relatives. Gourds belong to the same family as squash, cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins. They are all members of the Cucurbitacea family but belong to different genera. The only thing they have in common is that they all grow on vines.
Most gourds are much too bitter to eat.
Gourds are an example of Nature's excellence for design. The reason they are still around is because they have all the right stuff. As gourds mature, the stem cuts off all nutrients, leaving the gourd to dry in the sun and warm air. They develop a tough, wood-like shell. This shell protects the seeds and allows them to last for what appears to be forever.