What does gourd mean?

In various customs, the gourd is regarded as an auspicious instrument, which means good luck. For example, in ancient times, gourds were divided into two pieces at weddings and then used for drinking. In national culture, the gourd can have the symbol of both sexes, and the gourd combined into one symbolizes happiness. Among the symbols of ethnic minorities in China, Hulu also has this cultural symbol.

In many minority cultures, we can see the totem with gourd as the prototype, which is a national culture that has been passed down for thousands of years. Hulu also has the saying of "Five Blessingg", which carries people's good wishes. Among the ethnic minorities in China, there are many musical instruments made of imitation gourd. For example, cucurbit silk is a very elegant auspicious instrument.

Morphological characteristics of gourd

Annual climbing herbs; The stems and branches are wrinkled and mucilaginous villous, and gradually fall off when they are old, becoming almost hairless. The petiole is slender, with a length of16-20cm, the indumentum is the same as that of the stem, and there are two glands at the top. Leaf blade ovate-cordate or reniform-ovate, with length and width of10-35cm, indehiscent or 3-5-lobed, with 5-7 palmate veins and acute apex.

The edge has irregular teeth, the base is heart-shaped, curved and open, semi-circular or nearly circular, with a depth of 1-3 cm and a width of 2-6 cm. Both surfaces are puberulent, and the back of leaves and veins are dense. Tendrils are slender, puberulent at first, and then gradually fall off, becoming smooth and hairless, and the upper part is bifurcated. Monoecious, female flowers and male flowers are solitary.