Luffa

Luffa
Luffa
Egyptian luffa with nearly mature fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Benincaseae
Subtribe: Luffinae
Genus: Luffa
Mill.
Species
Synonyms
  • Poppya Neck. ex M.Roem.
  • Trevauxia Steud., orth. var.
  • Trevouxia Scop.
  • Turia Forssk.

The luffa, loofah, or lufah (from Arabic ليفة) are tropical and subtropical vines comprising the genus Luffa, the only genus of the subtribe Luffinae of the plant family Cucurbitaceae. The fruit of at least two species, Luffa acutangula and Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa cylindrica), is grown, harvested before maturity, and eaten as a vegetable, popular in Asia and Africa.

The ripe, dried fruit is also the source of the loofah or plant sponge. Luffas are also used to make the soles of beach sandals.

Luffa species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Hypercompe albicornis.

Parts of the plant are used to create bath or kitchen sponges, a natural jaundice remedy, furniture and even houses. The term is also used to describe synthetic bath tools that serve the same purpose.

Contents

Uses

The fruit section of L. aegyptiaca may be allowed to mature and used as a bath or kitchen sponge after being processed to remove everything but the network of xylem or fibers. Marketed as luffa or loofah, the sponge is used like a body scrub. Softly-textured luffa sponges are not derived from the luffa fruit, but are manufactured by folding in several layers of soft mesh-like fabric into a cloud-like shape; commonly used in tandem with shower soaps.

Its juice is used as a natural remedy for jaundice. The juice is obtained by pounding the bitter luffa and squeezing it through a cloth. Bitter luffa seeds and dry crusts are also available and can be used for the same purpose.

In Maharashtra, India, dodka (Ridge Gourd/luffa) and ghosavala (smooth luffa) are common vegetables prepared with either crushed dried peanuts or with beans. In Northern regions of India, Torai is the common name for Luffa.

In China, Indonesia, the Philippines, the luffa or patola is eaten as a green vegetable in various dishes. The luffa is eaten when the fruit is young and the sponge has yet to become tough. It is also known as Chinese Okra in Canada.

In Paraguay, panels are made out of luffa combined with other vegetable matter and recycled plastic. These can be used to create furniture and construct houses.[1]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Recyclable homes, Rolex Awards 2008 [1]

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • luffa — luffa …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Luffa — Schwammkürbis (Luffa cylindrica) Systematik Kerneudikotyledonen Rosiden …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Luffa — Luffa …   Wikipédia en Français

  • luffa — [ lufa ] n. m. VAR. loofa • 1708; lat. sav., de l ar. d Égypte lufali ♦ Liane d Afrique et d Asie (cucurbitacées). La pulpe fibreuse desséchée du fruit du luffa est utilisée comme éponge végétale. Des luffas. ● luffa nom masculin (arabe luff)… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Luffa — Luffa, ursprünglich eine Gattung der Kürbispflanzen (Cucurbitaceae) mit gurkenähnlichen Früchten. Von Luffa aegyptiaca Mill (= L. cylindrica Röm., in Aegypten und Arabien einheimisch und in Amerika kultiviert) wird die eiförmig ellipsoidische,… …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik

  • Luffa — Luffa, auch vegetabilischer oder Luffaschwamm, das getrocknete Fasergewebe der kürbisähnlichen Frucht von verschiedenen außereurop. Arten der zu den Kukurbitazeen gehörigen Netzgurke (Luffa), bes. von Luffa cylindrĭca Roem. [Abb. 1088]. Es wird… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Luffa — (L. Cav.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Cucurbitaceae Cucurbiteae Bryonieae, Monöcie, Monadelphie L.; Arten: L. foetida, rankendes Gewächs in Ostindien, mit großen gelben Blumen; L. acutangula, in Ostindien u. China, wild u. angebaut, mit… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Luffa — L. (Schwammkürbis), Gattung der Kukurbitazeen, einjährige, kletternde, monözische oder diözische Kräuter mit wechselständigen, gestielten, fünf bis siebenlappigen, rauhen Blättern, meist ansehnlichen gelben, selten weißen, in Trauben stehenden… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • luffa — [lo͞o′fə, luf′ə] n. [ModL < Ar lūf] 1. DISHCLOTH GOURD 2. the fibrous, vascular skeleton of the pod of a dishcloth gourd, used as a sponge …   English World dictionary

  • Luffa — Luf …   Wikipédia en Français

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