This is a snake gourd, true, but don't forget this is a wizard's staff either. Let's say if you need salad - you can summon it. You need green turbo energy for your body? You can spell it. Want to turn a snake into a sausage or a sausage into a snake? Voila (but google the magic words first). I don't mention you can fly on it (as if it was a broom) if you know the spell to say. And of course, you can use it as a spear to defeat evil. This is why The Dark Lord Sauron has never come back since he was beaten by Frodo and friends. He knows he has no chances in the world protected by snake gourd wizards.

:-)