''Luffa acutangula'' is a
cucurbitaceous vine that is commercially grown for its unripe fruits as a vegetable. Mature fruits are used as natural cleaning sponges. Its fruit slightly resembles a
cucumber
Cucumber (''Cucumis sativus'') is a widely-cultivated Vine#Horticultural climbing plants, creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that bears usually cylindrical Fruit, fruits, which are used as culinary vegetables. or
zucchini with ridges. It ranges from central and eastern Asia to southeastern Asia. It is also grown as a
houseplant in places with colder climates. English
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
s include angled luffa, Chinese okra, dish cloth gourd, ridged gourd, sponge gourd, vegetable gourd, strainer vine, ribbed loofah, silky gourd, silk gourd,
[M.M.P.N.D. - Sorting Luffa names](_blank)
Plantnames.unimelb.edu.au (2000-02-06). Retrieved on 2014-05-26.
Kitazawaseed.com (2014-01-22). Retrieved on 2014-05-26. and sinkwa towelsponge.
Uses
The young fruit of some
Luffa cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
s are used as cooked vegetables or pickled or eaten raw, and the shoots and flowers are sometimes also used.
Like ''
Luffa aegyptiaca'', the mature fruits are harvested when dry and processed to remove all but the fruit fibre, which can then be used as a sponge or as fibre for making hats.
[
]
Gallery
File:Glands in probract that attract ants.jpg, Extrafloral nectar glands
See also
* Luffa aegyptiaca
* Okra
References
Asian vegetables
Cucurbitoideae
Fruit vegetables
Flora of the Indian subcontinent
{{Cucurbitales-stub