Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Hot Springs, by lake

Synonyms:	Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Common names:	Chishambo (English) Loofah (English) Vegetable sponge (English)
Frequency:	Occasional
Status:	Doubtfully native in Zimbabwe but sometimes cultivated and escaping
Description:	Prostrate creeper or scandent climber, bearing tendrils. Leaves broadly ovate in outline, palmately 5-7-lobed with deeply and irregularly serrate margins. Flowers large, deep yellow, unisexual on the same plant. Fruit smooth, ellipsoid to cylindric, up to 25 cm long, dry when mature and opening by a small apical lid.
Notes:	The outer skin and flesh of the fruit and the internal seeds are removed and the resulting hard fibrous object is used as a sponge and scourer.
Derivation of specific name:	cylindrica: cylindric
Habitat:	River and dam margins at middle and low altitudes
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropics and subtropics
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,E,S
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 7 September 2006
Literature:

Flora of Zimbabwe: native/naturalised Luffa cylindrica page
African Plant Database: Luffa cylindrica
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Luffa cylindrica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Luffa cylindrica
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Luffa cylindrica
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Luffa cylindrica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Luffa cylindrica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Luffa cylindrica
JSTOR Plant Science: Luffa cylindrica
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Luffa cylindrica
Tropicos: Luffa cylindrica
West African Plants database: Luffa cylindrica