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Collections

Economic Botany Collections

The New Guinea Collection

Gourd

Gourd

Catalogue no:

54630

Botanical classification:

CUCURBITACEAE

Common name:

Chu nan

Collection date:

1875

Donor:

H.M.S. Challenger Expedition

Geographical origin:

Humboldt Bay, New Guinea

 

Gourds have been used by many societies in vast and diverse ways. These oddly shaped, hard-skinned fruits come from various plants in the Cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). This gourd, which has a wooden pin which can be inserted into one end, was collected on the H.M.S. Challenger expedition which stopped in Humboldt Bay in 1875, in what is known today as Irian Jaya. Items were traded with the inhabitants of the area.

Back to New Guinea: Early Explorers

 

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