Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, Seeds-oil, Vegetable
A pumpkin family plant. It is an annual climber up to 10 m long. The stem is five angled and slightly hairy. The tendrils have 2 or 3 branches. Leaves are 10-20 cm across with five to seven lobes. Male and female flowers are separate and yellow. The male flowers occur as 4 to 20 flowers together while female flowers are solitary in the leaf axils. Flowers open in the early morning. The fruit is fairly smooth and cylindrical and can be 30 - 60 cm long. The seeds are black, flat and smooth and 10-15 mm long.
A tropical plant. It grows well in the tropical lowlands but will also grow in more temperate places. It does best with temperatures between 25-30°C. It is better suited to the drier season as too heavy a rainfall during flowering and fruiting is harmful. Soils should be well drained and moderately rich. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 1,000-1,800 mm. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,500 m above sea level. In Argentina it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Smooth loofah, Vegetable sponge, Belustru, Bhol, Blustru, Boap hom, Boco, Chinkupule, Chisambo, Dadar, Dhundal, Dhundol pata, Dhundul, Dirgha patolika, Dishcloth gourd, Djadar, Djadra, Dudhul, Ekyangwe, Emes, Empenche, Esfregao, Esponja vegetal, Essancadaco, Estropajo, Fuaski, Futi, Ghia-torai, Ghiu toria, Ghiya tori, Ghosali, Ghuraunla, Guthibira, Hechima, Hey, Kabatiti, Kattupeechal, Ketola manis, Kisukulio, Kyangwe, Landjirco, Lidadochi, Lifa, Lipa, Lotorco, M'boa, Makwasaokwasa, Mantwatwa, Meethi-torai, Metolak, Metowo, Mozhuku pirkankai, Muop huong, Muop, Musaka saka, Nanua, Niyan-wetakolu, Nonong prakaer, Nsanu, Ntembere, Nterater, Nsanu, Ogiogi, Olok, Patola, Petola buntal, Petola manis, Petulo panjang, Pichuknu, Pipino-di-lobo, Pipino-di-mato, Pir rorogo, Poente, Pronthai, Rajakoshataki, Saysay-ot, Si gua, Sponge gourd, Sze kwa, Taku, Tangmui, Tha-but-chaw, Thabut-kha, Tha-but-nwe, Thenpon, Thoraa, Toorai, Tuppahirekai, Turia, Umpawng, Vatakolu, Xifenhu
Synonyms:
Luffa aegyptiaca Miller;
Luffa aegyptiaca Miller var. peramara Bailey;
Luffa fricatoria Donde;
Luffa insularum Donde;
Luffa leucosperma M. Roem.;
Luffa pentandra Roxb.;
Luffa racemosa Roxb.;
Luffa sylvestris Miq.;
Luffa leiocarpa (Naudin) F. Muell.;
Momordica cylindrica L.;
Momordica luffa L.;