Luffa

Luffa is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines in the pumpkin, squash and gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).

This article is about the plant. For the showering tool made from it, see Exfoliation (cosmetology) ยง Loofah.

Luffa
Egyptian luffa with nearly mature fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Sicyoeae
Genus: Luffa
Mill.
Species
  • Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. (angled luffa, ridged luffa, vegetable gourd)
  • Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. (smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, dishrag gourd, gourd loofa)
  • Luffa astorii Svenson
  • Luffa echinata Roxb.
  • Luffa graveolens Roxb.
  • Luffa operculata (L.) Cogn. (wild loofa, sponge cucumber)
  • Luffa quinquefida (Hook. & Arn.) Seem.
  • Luffa saccata F.Muell. ex I.Telford
  • Luffa sepium (G.Mey.) C.Jeffrey
Synonyms

In everyday non-technical usage, the luffa, also spelled loofah or less frequently loofa, usually refers to the fruits of the species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. It is cultivated and eaten as a vegetable, but must be harvested at a young stage of development to be edible. The vegetable is popular in India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Vietnam. When the fruit is fully ripened, it is very fibrous. The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge.

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