Luffa aegyptiaca
Content
Description
Climbers 5-15 m long, stem 2-5 mm diam., glabrescent, scabrous.
Leaves:
Flowers opening at day-time;
Fruit ripening (light and dark) yellow green, globose, short- to long-ellipsoid or cylindrical, 3-20(-50) cm long, not ribbed, glabrous;
Seeds numerous, dull blackish, elliptic in outline, 7-12 by 4-8 mm, with narrow membranous wing-like border.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Australasia, Old World present, tropical America
Old World, Australia, naturalized in tropical America; in Malesia: widely cultivated and locally with feral or truly wild forms.
Citation
I.Telford 1982 – In: Fl. Australia: 179
Keraudren 1975 – In: Aubrév. & J.-F.Leroy, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 15: 47
Backer 1964 – In: Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 300
Mill. 2008 – In: Fl. Thailand: 462
W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes – In: Sandakania: 68
Craib 1931 – In: Fl. Siam.: 756
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ned. Ind.: 667