angled loofah

Luffa acutangula (Roxb.) is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) and is recognized for its ridged, cucumber-like fruit. The species was first described in 1814. It is cultivated for its edible unripe fruit and its mature fruit, which is used as a natural sponge. The plant is native to South Asia and has been introduced to other parts of the world, including the United States, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa and the Pacific. It is also grown as an ornamental or houseplant in cooler regions. The species is known by multiple common names, such as angled luffa, ridged gourd, and silk gourd.