Literary usage of the word "gourd" reveals a remarkable versatility spanning practical, symbolic, and even scientific domains. In Native American myths as recorded by Mooney, the gourd appears as an everyday object—a tool or vessel—integral to ritual and survival, as seen when it’s carried alongside a war club ([1]) or fashioned into a trumpet ([2]), while also serving a domestic role in providing water or sustenance ([3]). In adventure narratives like Northup’s and Verne’s, the gourd functions as a vital container for food and drink ([4], [5], [6], [7]), emphasizing its utilitarian value. At the same time, scientific and culinary texts—including those by Jefferson and Apicius—highlight its physical characteristics and cultural applications ([8], [9], [10]). Moreover, authors such as Confucius, Hardy, and Brontë deploy the herbaceous emblem metaphorically to evoke bitterness, exotic allure, or personal transformation ([11], [12], [13]), showcasing the gourd’s rich symbolic potential across diverse literary traditions.