Thai name: gourd

Common name: Sponge loofah

Scientific name Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem.

genus Luffa

Synonym

Luffa acutangula var. subangulata (Miq.) Cogn.

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.

Luffa aegyptiaca var. leiocarpa (Naudin) Heiser & E.E. Schill.

Luffa aegyptiaca var. peramara F.M.Bailey

Family name: CUCURBITACEAE

Botanical characteristics

The stem of the gourd is a climbing vine. The vine is hard and sticky. similar to winged beans But it only lasts for one year or one season. light green vine The stems are rolled up and wrapped around things for good traction, and have a hand to hold on to.

Leaves: Single, rounded leaves, size 10-20 cm., on the vine and covered with soft hairs.

Flowers: Solitary flowers emerge from leaf axils. Gourd flowers are considered flowers. that is beautiful They are a soft yellow color, cool to the eye, usually bloom in the evening. The petals are yellow.

The fruit is round, diameter 5-10 cm., length 10-80 cm., has many seeds. When mature, the inside of the fruit is hollow. And only the fibers remain. The young fruit is green with dark green stripes. The fruit is greenish-yellow to brown when mature. Has tough fibers reticulated

Ecological conditions

outdoor

ecological conditions

Sufficient water should be provided. And evenly, don't make it too wet. And don't let it lack water during flowering and fruiting. Sprinkler watering is not recommended because it can easily cause disease outbreaks.

Place of origin

South Asia, Southeast Asia

Distribution

Widely grown in tropical countries.

Planting and propagation

Propagated by seed.

Utilization type

food, herbs

Young fruits are eaten fresh and can be used to make curry, stir-fried with eggs, or poached and dipped in various chili pastes.

The fibers from the mature fruit can be Let's make fibers for scrubbing the body or washing utensils. Rubbing yourself with natural fibers will help. Blood circulation improves and stimulate the skin to be refreshed because of the skin shell that The dead have been removed.

Reference source

Knowledge for sustainable development of highland areas Highland Research and Development Institute (Public Organization). 2016. "Fragrant gourd". [Online system]. Source: http://hkm.hrdi.or.th/knowledge/detail/66 (11 April 2017).

The Plant List. 2013. “Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem.”. [Online system].source: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2338909 (11 April 2017).

Wikipedia. “Luffa aegyptiaca”.[Online system].source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luffa_aegyptiaca (11 April 2017).