Gourd
Gourds include the fruits of some
Terminology
Gourd is occasionally used to describe crop plants in the
or also to their hollow, dried-out shell.There are many different gourds worldwide. The main plants referred to as gourds include several species from the genus Cucurbita (mostly native to North America, including the
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.[4] 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 early in history, although a new study now indicates Africa.[6] The archaeological and DNA records show it is likely that the gourd was among the first domesticated species, in Asia between 12,000 and 13,000 years before present, and possibly the first domesticated plant species.[7]
Wild, poisonous gourds (Citrullus colocynthis) were unknowingly added to the company of prophets' stew according to a story of Elisha in the Hebrew Bible. Elisha added flour to the stew in order to purify it.[8]
Gourds continued to be used throughout history in almost every culture throughout the world.
Research
Scientists in India have been working on crossbreeding six members of the
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.[4] Today, gourds are commonly used for a wide variety of crafts, including jewelry, furniture, dishes, utensils and a wide variety of decorations using carving, burning and other techniques.[10]
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.[11]
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A fixed-key balafon, showing gourd resonators with membrane holes
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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.
- African percussion instruments are made incorporating gourds, including the shekere, axatse, balafon, and caxixi.
- bottle gourd
Citations
- ^ Andres, T. C. (2004). "Cucurbitaceae". The Cucurbit Network. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- S2CID 29052282.
- S2CID 161495351. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2013-05-12.
- ^ ISBN 978-1135958107.
- ^ ISBN 0806926996.
- ^ Wade, Lizzie (2014-02-10). "Scientists Solve Mystery of World-Traveling Plant". Science. Archived from the original on 2018-06-15.
- PMID 16352716.
- ^ 2 Kings 4:38–41
- ^ S., Indu Mathi (2012-09-30). "Bitter gets better". Down To Earth. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-12-21.
- ISBN 1402727755.
- ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
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]3SbCH2C(O)OEt}+2[Hg2I6]2−and {[2,6−(OMe)2C6H3]3SBME}+2[HgI4]2−⋅DMSO: Synthesis and Structure". Russian Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. 64 (1): 28–35. ]
External links
- . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
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