Pilgrim Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

Bottle Gourd or Pilgrim's Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria): This ancient plant produces curious fruits, not for consumption but for various practical uses. Once dried, the gourd can be used as a container for liquids; in the past, it was used as a water canteen or a flask for alcohol. The name "Pilgrim's Gourd" comes from its classic iconography, with a staff and gourd flask in tow.

Originating in Asia, where it was first used as a container for medicines and then for wine, Lagenaria is the only pumpkin found in Europe before the discovery of the New World. The plant is vigorous and fast-growing, making it excellent for covering pergolas. Cultivation on a vine allows the pumpkins to take on a variety of shapes. The inedible white flowers are followed by numerous fruits. Harvest them when they begin to fade; simply dry the pumpkin in a cool, dry place and extract the seeds when you hear them crackle when shaking. Both the seeds and the pumpkin are inedible. It isn't as fussy as regular winter squash, grows hardy, and tolerates cold climates.