''Lagenaria'' is a genus of

gourd Gourds include the fruits of some flowering plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, particularly ''Cucurbita'' and ''Lagenaria''. The term refers to a number of species and subspecies, many with hard shells, and some without. One of the earli ...

-bearing

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselv ...

s in the squash

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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Cucurbitaceae The Cucurbitaceae, also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in around 95 genera, of which the most important to humans are: *''Cucurbita'' – squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds *''Lagena ...

). ''Lagenaria'' contains six species, all of which are indigenous to tropical Africa."Pollinators and biological diversity: the case of the bottle gourd (''Lagenaria siceraria'') in Kenya"
by Morimoto Y., Gikungu M., and Maundu P., year 2004
"Notes on ''Lagenaria'' and ''Cucurbita'' (''Cucurbitaceae'')"
, by Herwig Teppner, year 2004 on page 252. The best-known species, the

calabash Calabash (; ''Lagenaria siceraria''), also known as bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, long melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be either harvested young to be consumed ...

or bottle gourd, ''L. siceraria'', has been domesticated by humans, and has spread beyond Africa. The other species are not cultivated. The gourds of the various species may be harvested young and used as a vegetable. More commonly, the gourds are harvested mature, then dried, and used in making utensils (including musical instruments and containers). Gourds of ''L. siceraria'' have been used to store water and other liquids since ancient times. The generic name ''lagenaria'' comes from classical Latin ''lagena'' meaning bottle or flask, plus Latin suffix -aria.''Lagenaria'' i
''The Names of Plants''
by David Gledhill, year 2008 (see also ''lagena'' i
Latin-English Dictionary
by William Whitaker).

Species

The genus comprises 6 species: *''

Lagenaria abyssinica ''Lagenaria abyssinica'' is a species of squash plant. It is a climbing vine. The stem and branches are covered in hair-like spines. It ranges from Africa to Asia. The fruit is used to make bottles and instruments. It is also grown as an ornament ...

'' *''

Lagenaria breviflora ''Lagenaria breviflora'' is a species of flowering plant. It is a climbing vine that is found across central, east, and west Africa. It has large, 7 to 20 cm ovate-triangular leaves with hairy undersides and partly-dense hairs on the leaf petio ...

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Lagenaria guineensis ''Lagenaria guineensis'' is a species of flowering plant. It is a climbing vine that is found in tropical west Africa and the Congo Basin. It forms oblong, green fruits with whitish spots across the surface. The fruits are similar to those of oth ...

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Lagenaria rufa ''Lagenaria rufa'' is a squash Squash may refer to: Sports * Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets * Squash (professional wrestling), an extremely one-sided match in professional wrestling * Squash tennis ...

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Lagenaria siceraria Calabash (; ''Lagenaria siceraria''), also known as bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, long melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown for its fruit. It can be either harvested young to be consumed ...

'' *''

Lagenaria sphaerica ''Lagenaria sphaerica'' is a herbaceous climber in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is commonly known as the wild melon. These plants are found in low-lying areas from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to East Africa. The may grow along river floodp ...

References

Cucurbitaceae genera Cucurbitoideae {{Cucurbitales-stub