Ridge gourd

Catalogue Type

Seed Catalogue

Scientific Name

Luffa acutangula

Family

Cucurbitaceace

Distinguishing Characters

There are numerous flattened seeds that are pitted inside the fruit having fiborous spongy skeleton and seeds are black without a narrow wing-like margin.

Photo of Seed

Description

Luffa, or loofah, is derived from the Arabic name, louff, for Luffa cylindrica, while the specific epithet, acutangula, means “with sharp edges”, referring to the prominent ridges of the fruit.

Edible Plant Parts (Edible Fruits; Edible Leaves; Edible Flowers), Medicinal (The fibres, charred and fresh fruits, seeds, leaves and sap from the stem of Luffa acutangula have uses in medicine and cosmetics.

Ridge gourd is extremely rich in dietary fiber helps in proper functioning of digestive system