Gourds are a type of hard-shelled fruit that belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers, summer and winter squashes, and pumpkins. They are mostly used as ornamental novelties, birdhouses, or ornamental decorations on Thanksgiving. However, gourds have also played host to musical instruments, sponges, and even birdhouses over the centuries. Gourds are still used as storage containers and utensils in many countries. Some gourds are edible, such as acorn squash, watermelon, field pumpkin, butternut squash, bitter melon, and calabash (bottle gourd) . Inedible gourds include apple gourd, baby bear pumpkin, and angel wing. Dried gourds can be made into a wide variety of useful objects, including utensils, cups, bottles, scoops, ladles, fishnet floats, and birdhouses. Numerous musical instruments made from gourds are found on nearly every continent. Gourds are also used to make jewelry, furniture, dishes, and utensils. Some gourds have health benefits, such as the bottle gourd, which is a good source of calcium, vitamin K, and C.