Home | > | List of families | > | Cucurbitaceae | > | Luffa | > | cylindrica |
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. |
Type location: |
a cultivated plant |
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 |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1500 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropics and subtropics |
National distribution: | N,W,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Thursday 7 September 2006 |
Literature: |
Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 454 - 455. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 38. Reekmans, M. (1983). Cucurbitaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 480. (Includes a picture). |
Home | > | List of families | > | Cucurbitaceae | > | Luffa | > | cylindrica |