Cultivated in homesteads The leaves are used in haemorrhoids, splenitis, leprosy and ringworm. Tender 8 fruits is used as vegetable. Dried and processed mature fruits used as a sponge or fibre.
Details
§ 01
uses
The leaves are used in haemorrhoids, splenitis, leprosy and ringworm. Tender 8 fruits is used as vegetable. Dried and processed mature fruits used as a sponge or fibre.
family
Cucurbitaceae
synonym
Momordica cylindrica L., Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
description
Climbing herbs, tendrils × 3-fid. Leaves 5-7 lobed, 6-12 6-11 cm, orbicular or broadly ovate, base cordate, margin shallowly dentate, apex acuminate, upper surface glandular-punctate, lower surface scabrid; petiole to 4.5 cm long. Flowers monoecious, male and female on same axil. Male flowers in recemes, clustered; peduncle to 9 cm; pedicel to 8 mm; calyx tube broadly companulate, lobes × 5, 2-3 1-1.5 cm, lanceolate-acuminate; or a petals 5, yellow; stamens 5, free, inserted near mouth of calyx tube. Female flowers solitary, co-axillary with male flower; ovary × oblong. Fruits 10-22 6-8 cm, cylindric, × fibrous within; seeds many, ca. 10 8 mm, ovoid, compressed, black.