Why are Gourds Poisonous?

I’ve always known that gourds are inedible and I know someone who ate a gourd and threw up. Why would something so close to a squash be poisonous? Also they are easy to grow. (Such bad form for Nature to make something easy to grow poisonous!) Signed, Wondering About The Cucurbitaceae

Nightshade, being a relative the ubiqutous tomatoes and potatoes (and eggplant!) is deadly. 'Maters aren’t. Same sort of thing, Nature’s just playing keep away.

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bibliophage
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