Try to describe a gourd and you might find it trickier than you thought. Perhaps the word makes you think of those gnarly squash-like fruits that show up with pumpkins in the fall. However, gourds come in many more shapes and colors, and range in size from a large egg to bigger than a bushel basket. Dried gourds can be stained, painted, waxed, or carved into dippers, birdhouses, toys, bowls, and planters. Musical instruments such as flutes, lutes, maracas, and drums can be fashioned from the hard-shelled fruit. Small gourds, left whole, add splashes of color to autumn decor. And did you know that the luffa sponge comes from a gourd?
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What Is a Gourd?
Gourds, like pumpkins, melons, squash and cucumbers, are members of the cucurbit or squash family. Like their cousins, gourds grow on long vines. There are three major gourd groups. Cucurbit gourds are small, decorative, colorful, thick-shelled and sometimes warty. Lagenaria gourds are larger and can be used for a variety of utilitarian or decorative functions. This group includes bottle, basket, and dipper gourds. The third group is the luffa gourd. Its elongated fruit contains a fibrous material that is used as a sponge. Most gourds are strictly ornamental, but a few can be eaten like summer squash, if they are harvested young.
List of different types at link:
https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/types-of-gourds/