Edible: Leaves, Fruits, Vegetable, Seeds, Seeds - oil, Flowers
A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is an annual climber with square stems. They have 4 to 7 branched tendrils which attach to objects helping the plant to have a climbing habit. Leaves are pale green, hairy and shallowly five lobed. The leaves have a bad smell when rubbed. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in clusters, female flowers singly. (Ratio 43:1) Flowers open late in the afternoon and stay open during the night. The flowers are yellow. Fruit can be up to 40 cm long and with 10 long ridges. It is green-brown outside and white inside. Three varieties have been distinguished.
A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude in the hot humid tropics. It won't tolerate excessive rainfall so does best in drier areas or in the dry season in wetter areas. Day temperatures above 25 °C are suitable. Some varieties require short day length. Adding additional nitrogen fertiliser can stimulate female flower formation in short day varieties. In Nepal it grows between 1000-1600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Ban-ghirola, Birakaya, Blustru, Boap liam, Bonion, Buap sagi, Buyo-buyo, Chinese okra, Daravetakolu, Dishcloth gourd, Emes, Esponga, Estropajo, Gambas, Ghisoda, Hirekayi, Hoyong, Jhika, Jhinga tori, Jhinga, Jhingana, Jhingli, Jhongaka, Jinga, Kabatiti, Kachur, Kala-kha-we, Kali tori, Kali, Kattu pirkuu, Ketola segi, Ketola, Kha-we-yaing, Kimput, Koshataki, Kul-hu-bi, Loofah, Looy, Manoi-liam, Metolak, Muop khai, Murop kai, Oyong, Papangay, Pate ghiraunla, Patola, Patolang, Peeram, Pekunkai, Petola sanding, Petola-sagi, Pichenga, Pirkankai, Pronthai, Ribbed gourd, Ridged gourd, Ronoong chrung, Sataputi, Shiri dodka, Shirola, Si gua, Silk gourd, Sze gwa, Taroi, Tha-but-nwe, Timput, Tokado-hechima, Torai, Vatakolu
Synonyms:
Cucumis acutangulus L.;
Cucumis lineatus Bosc.;
Cucumis megacarpus G. Don;
Cucumis operculatus Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.;
Cucurbita acutangula (L.) Blume;
Cucurbita umbellata Klein ex Willd.;
Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. var. amara (Roxb.) C. B. Clarke;
Luffa amara Roxb.;
Luffa drastica Mart.;
Luffa fluminensis Roem.;
Luffa foetida Cav.;
Luffa forskalii Schweinf. ex Harms;
Luffa gosa Ham.;
Luffa umbellata (Klein ex Willd.) M. Roem.;
Momordica tubiflora Wall.;