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Bottle gourd, (Lagenaria siceraria), running or climbing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical Africa but cultivated in warm climates around the world for its ornamental and useful hard-shelled fruits. The young fruits are edible and are usually cooked as a vegetable. The mature gourds are made into water bottles, dippers, spoons, pipes, and many other utensils and containers; they can also be fashioned into birdhouses, fancy ornaments, lamps, and musical instruments. Additionally, the vine’s showy white flowers and dense foliage make it a popular screen and ornamental plant.