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: Bart Wursten
Near Urema River along road no11, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Urema River along road no11, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Urema River along road no11, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Urema River along road no11, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Urema River along road no11, Gorongosa National Park.
Male flowers
Katanga Province, DRC
Dec 2007
Photo: Jos Stevens
Katanga Province, DRC
Dec 2007
Photo: Jos Stevens
Katanga Province, DRC
Jul 2008
Photo: Jos Stevens
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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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. |
Type location:
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a cultivated plant |
Notes:
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Derivation of specific name:
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cylindrica: cylindric |
Habitat:
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Altitude range: (metres) |
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Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution:
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Widespread in tropics and subtropics |
National distribution:
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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:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Malawi:
cultivated Luffa cylindricaFlora of Mozambique:
Luffa cylindricaFlora of Mozambique:
cultivated 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:
The Rwanda flora team, 2024-25
The Rwanda flora team
(2025).
Flora of Rwanda: Species information: Luffa cylindrica. https://www.rwandaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157240, retrieved 2 April 2025
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