Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (15)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Hot Springs, by lake
Photo: Bart Wursten
Hot Springs, by lake
Photo: Mark Hyde
Hilton Road, Harare
Photo: Mark Hyde
Hilton Road, Harare
Photo: Mark Hyde
Hilton Road, Harare
Photo: Mark Hyde
Hilton Road, Harare
Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
Synonyms:
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Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
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Common names:
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Chishambo (English)
Loofah (English)
Vegetable sponge (English)
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Frequency:
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Status:
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Doubtfully native |
Description:
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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:
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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:
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cylindrica: cylindric |
Habitat:
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River and dam margins at middle and low altitudes |
Altitude range: |
Up to 1500 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution:
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Widespread in tropics and subtropics |
Malawi distribution:
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N,C,S |
Growth form(s):
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Endemic status:
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Red data list status:
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Insects associated with this species:
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Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
Literature:
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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).
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Other sources of information about Luffa cylindrica:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of the DRC:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Malawi:
cultivated Luffa cylindricaFlora of Mozambique:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Mozambique:
cultivated Luffa cylindricaFlora of Rwanda:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Zambia:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Zimbabwe:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Zimbabwe:
cultivated Luffa cylindricaExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg):
Luffa cylindricaAfrican Plant Database:
Luffa cylindricaBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library):
Luffa cylindricaEOL (Encyclopedia of Life):
Luffa cylindricaGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Luffa cylindricaGoogle:
Web -
Images -
ScholariNaturalist:
Luffa cylindricaIPNI (International Plant Names Index):
Luffa cylindricaJSTOR Plant Science:
Luffa cylindricaMansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
Luffa cylindricaPlants of the World Online:
Luffa cylindricaTropicos:
Luffa cylindricaWikipedia:
Luffa cylindrica
Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M.
(2024).
Flora of Malawi: Species information: Luffa cylindrica. https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157240, retrieved 4 October 2024
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