All squash comes from one of the following five Cucurbita species: C. argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata and C. pepo. Some market groups (like pumpkin) cross all five species. For simplicity sake, we will group most of these Cucurbata cultivars into the Squash group:

Most Gourds are related to squash. Some of them may not be as delicious or even as edible, but they all have their uses. Some are cultivar groups of the squash species above. Others are whole species in themselves. Some notable & important gourds are: