Riley wrote:
I'm looking for information about a spider-deterring gourd, which may be
known as a hedgehog. It is, apparently, beige/yellow in appearance and has
ridges on the outside that make it look very similar to a brain. I was told
that by placing one of these anywhere in a room, it would keep spiders away.

Micah J. Mabelitini schreef
Possibly Osage Orange, Maclura pomifera, sometimes called 'hedge apple'.
The fruit is brain-like, beige/yellow/green and often attributed with
the ability to repel spiders and insects (although such claims are
fairly unsupported). They're not gourds, though.

Micah Mabelitini

+ + +
That must be it! Tales alter with the telling.
PvR