Calabash << KAL uh bash >> is a gourd that grows on a long tropical vine. The gourd ranges from 3 to 30 inches (8 to 76 centimeters) long. It is often called bottle gourd or dipper gourd, depending on the shape.
The gourdlike fruit of the calabash tree, an evergreen tree of tropical America, is also called calabash. The round fruit may be 12 inches (30 centimeters) across. Its hard, tough outer shell can be used as a cooking pot. The pulp and seeds may be eaten.
