Bottle gourd, or lauki, may be an everyday vegetable, but its history and uses are far more fascinating than they seem. From being used as containers thousands of years ago and potentially travelling across oceans to serving as a resonating chamber in musical instruments, the humble gourd has played several roles beyond the kitchen. Its high water content, use in traditional desserts and an important safety warning about unusually bitter bottle gourd make these seven lesser-known facts worth knowing.