Luffa acutangula

Luffa acutangula, also known as angled loofah, is an annual climbing vine from the gourd family native to the Old World tropics. This plant is cultivated for its edible fruits, which are consumed when young, either cooked, raw, or pickled. The fruit has a mild flavor, often compared to zucchini, and a spongy texture.12

When mature, the interior fibrous part of the fruit can be dried and used as a sponge for bathing or washing dishes, and also has industrial applications as a filter. The plant produces tendrils and yellow flowers, and its oblong fruits are green when young and turn straw-colored as they mature. Other common names for Luffa acutangula include Chinese okra, patola, ribbed gourd, and ridge gourd.12