Indian-sponge gourd

Indian-sponge gourd
Scientific classification
Missing taxonomy template (fix):	Luffa
Species:	Template:Taxonomy/LuffaL. acutangula
Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/LuffaLuffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.
Synonyms
Luffa forskalii L. Royle Cucurbita acutangula (L.) Blume Cucumis lineatus Bosc Cucumis megacarpus G.Don Roxb. D.Dietr. J.G.Klein ex Willd. Roxb. Mart. Cav. Schweinf. ex Harms N.B.Singh & U.C.Bhattach. (J.G.Klein ex Willd.) M.Roem. Luffa kleinii Luffa cattu-picinna Luffa fluminensis Luffa forskalii Luffa gosa Wight & Arn. Cucumis operculatus Cucurbita campanulata Cucurbita umbellata Luffa amara Ser. M.Roem. Beck & F.Abel Buch.-Ham. Ser. Luffa tenera Luffa umbellata Luffa plukenetiana Cucumis acutangulus Luffa drastica Luffa foetida Luffa hermaphrodita

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 or zucchini with ridges. It is native to South Asia and has been naturalised in other regions. It is also grown as a houseplant in places with colder climates. English common names include angled luffa, Chinese okra, dish cloth gourd, ridged gourd, sponge gourd, vegetable gourd, strainer vine, ribbed loofah, silky gourd, and silk gourd.

Uses

The young fruits of some Luffa cultivars 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

• 
  Extrafloral nectar glands with Oecophylla smaragdina ants
• 
  Female flower
• 
  Male flower

See also

• Okra

References

Template:Cucurbitales-stub

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