The New Student's Reference Work/Gourd

Gourd. This common name is applied to the small hard forms of Cucurbita pepo which are ordinarily used for ornamental purposes. In England, however, it is a name applied to species of Cucurbita in general. In America the various forms are designated as gourds, pumpkins and squashes. The common pumpkin (C. pepo) is probably native to tropical America, but is not known wild. It was found cultivated by the Indians along with maize when America was discovered. The various forms of crookneck squashes (C. moschata) are said to have been derived from eastern Asia. The ordinary squash (C. maxima} is probably American. The genus contains about ten species, but innumerable varieties have been cultivated.