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Dhundul, Ghia Torai, Sponge Gourds, Vegetable Sponge, Wash Sponge, Gourd Towel, Dishcloth Gourd, Loofah Gourd; “घोसावळे”, Ghosali / Ghosalava in Marathi; Beng. Dundhul, Jinga;
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Annual climber with palmately 5-lobed leaves up to 25 cm across, bright yellow 5-7 cm across flowers with almost free petals, fruit cylindrical, smooth, 20-45 cm long.
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Fruits & Vegetables Week: Luffa aegyptiaca the Ghia tori or smooth loofah:
Luffa aegyptiaca (syn: L. cylindrica), the smooth loofah or ghia tori, a very commonly used vegetable in warmer parts of India.


– Adding my picture taken at Nasik, Maharashtra during October,2010. This was taken in a farm.


– .. if I am not wrong, Lauki is Lagenaria siceraria. It is Ghia Torai as mentioned..


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Wayanad flora #16 | 12May2011AR03: Wayanad flora #16 | 12May2011AR03

Date/Time-10 Jan 2011
Location- Place, Altitude, GPS- Waynaad, Kerala
Habitat- Garden/ Urban/ Wild/ Type-, Garden
Plant Habit- Tree/ Shrub/ Climber/ Herb-Climber
Height/Length-approx –
Leaves Type/ Shape/ Size- Shape – Approx. 20cms, lobed
Inflorescence Type/ Size-
Flowers Size/ Colour/ Calyx/ Bracts – Yellow, 7-10cms


– Habitat :-Wild plant, lake side Karapuzha


I also think this is Luffa aegyptiaca we call it “duhdrul” in Bengali
the dried fruits are used as a body scrubber.


Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. is now correctly known as L. cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.
It is the commonest Ghia Tori grown in tropics, the smooth gourd, Dhundal in Beng, Ghosali in Mar.,
L. acutangula L, usually grown in cold climates and having fruit with strong ridges, the ridged gourd or ribbed gourd, kali tori in Hindi, Jhinga in Beng., Shirola in Mar..
Only fruit (young or old) can help in final confirmation, as leaves look similar in two. Latter generally has lighter yellow flowers, which I see here.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ygjBsGDW-BU/T3nTLpaR8CI/AAAAAAAAC_8/MsKIyf8VM5M/s1600/Luffa%2Baegyptiaea%2Bor%2BLuffa%2Bacutangula_DSCN5411.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_X0e54YFjaE/T3nTB3JjtJI/AAAAAAAAC_U/3Jic9Dcz4hw/s1600/Luffa%2Baegyptiaea%2Bor%2BLuffa%2Bacutangula%2Bvar.%2Bamara_DSCN5421.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c0A_j7aj8n8/T3nS8XvATTI/AAAAAAAAC_A/-vObRudUNsw/s1600/plant_Luffa%2Baegyptiaea%2Bor%2BLuffa%2Bacutangula%2Bvar.%2Bamara_DSCN5540.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sMp7V7tnevM/T3nSzpIFqZI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/Fd2RvQG-ImE/s1600/plant_Luffa%2Baegyptiaea%2Bor%2BLuffa%2Bacutangula%2Bvar.%2Bamara_DSCN5537.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ld51aZEGSsk/T3nTGuw3SwI/AAAAAAAAC_o/fOEE8YfxdrA/s1600/Luffa%2Baegyptiaea%2Bor%2BLuffa%2Bacutangula%2Bvar.%2Bamara_DSCN5465.jpg

Cucurbitaceae week: Luffa aegyptiaca from Hooghly:  Attaching images of sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.).

Species : Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Bengali Name : DHUNDUL
Date : 02-12-2011, 04-12-2011
Place : Hooghly, WB

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https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-75v0_2Tbrsw/T3nKw9h5v2I/AAAAAAAAC8M/Xa7uZINeUnA/s1600/butr_skipper104_DSCN4253.jpg
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3K33lDZpbw4/T3nJnOBQ2ZI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/nO6PJCxOD8g/s1600/butr_blue_Euchrysops_cnejus_DSCN4259.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UmgcY7ewNE4/T3nJw15CXpI/AAAAAAAAC7k/KXYW6bxSh_8/s1600/butr_blue_Euchrysops_cnejus_DSCN4262.jpghttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rCrd75ot3jM/T3nJh-gK0wI/AAAAAAAAC68/xveDOSkRQDk/s1600/butr_blue_Euchrysops_cnejus_DSCN4258.jpg

Cucurbitaceae week: Luffa & Insecta from Hooghly: I recorded these photos in November & December, last year. At that time i was more drawn to fauna and have had no knowledge about flora. I didn’t pay attention to host / visiting plants those fauna members were attached with.
Here are a few of my photo-shots, each displaying one or more insect member on Luffa sp.
I think these flowers are of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ZmIxpiEc4Hk/T3_AlDURTyI/AAAAAAAAA9I/mxsni4cIRhM/s1600/Luffa-cylindrica-Delhi-3.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UxHtYJIK9rk/T3_AUgXBIYI/AAAAAAAAA88/BBtM3K3rFek/s1600/Luffa-cylindrica-Khalsa-Delhi-2.jpg
Cucurbitaceae Week: Luffa cylindrica from Delhi:  Luffa Cylindrica (L.) Roem., Syn. Monogr. 2:63. 1846.
Syn: Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.; Momordica cylindrica L.
Annual climber with palmately 5-lobed leaves up to 25 cm across, bright yellow 5-7 cm across flowers with almost free petals, fruit cylindrical, smooth, 20-45 cm long.

Photographed from Delhi.


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fruit : Luffa aegyptiaca from Hooghly:

It is interesting to note that the image in wikipedia shows a 4-chambered Luffa aegyptiaca. but mine is a 3-chambered as in – http://culture-maghrebine.clictopic.com/t2739-luffa
Species :
Habit & Habitat : wild climber
Date : 13-04-2012, 9.20 a.m.

Place : Hooghly, WB


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Flora of Panipat: Luffa cylindrica from Lohari Panipat:

Luffa cylindrica from Lohari Panipat

pls validate


I agree with … diagnosis . I dont think there is any mystery to it..
so may be people have not responded … may be we need … or … or … from Mississipi to agree …or??

Yes … your id is correct. I have also the images from Odisha with me. I wl upload soon


sharing images of a very common climber taken from Ranpur, Odisha
Name of the species: Luffa aegyptiaca
Family: Cucurbitaceae
habit: Climber
habitat: Wild, on many trees on both side of road, on the way to Ranpur, Nayagarh
 

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Cucurbitaceae :  Attachments (1). 6 posts by 4 authors.

A climber with fruits like Luffa, but I cannot see the leaves.  Id is requested.


I hope bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria


May be Luffa cylindrical


I agree with … It looks like Luffa cylindrical


I think yes. I just got confused earlier.

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Gourd For ID : Flower Show,Mumbai : 050713 : AK-1 :  Attachments (1). 7 posts by 3 authors.

A gourd seen at the flower show in Jijamata Udyan, Mumbai on 18/2/2011.

Snake Gourd?


This one looks like Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roemer.


Thanks for this id too.

I was confused between Luffa cylindrica and Trichosanthes cucumerina, although I seem to know both.


I have four Trichosanthes

You may note your pic also features L. acutangula, in the background at right hand side.


Thanks for the feedback and additional information.

So I take this as Luffa cylindrica as final?


Please wait for experts’ views.


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Hooghly yesterday : Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. :  Attachments (5). 5 posts by 3 authors.

It is DHUNDUL in Bengali, Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. in “Bengal Plants”.

Dr. Prain equates it with three species of Flora Indica – 1) L. pentandra, 2) L. clavata, and 3) L. racemosa.

This one is cultivated variety, eaten in curry.

I have earlier posts featuring wild variety, bitter tasted. But, sometimes this cultivated var. also escapes in the wild.


In Kannada it is known as ‘Thuppada eere kai’


JHINGA (L. acutangula) or DHUNDUL (L. aegyptiaca) with POSTO (poppy seeds) is a delicacy, as can be seen in a recipe page – http://www.bongcookbook.com/2009/01/jhinge-chingri-posto.html


Thank you Sir, it is pleasant to know that it is cultivated in South too.


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02042014Al191 Confirm if Benincasa hispida : 8 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (3).

Growing in an empty site, climbing on the walls.
Photo taken in Bangalore


efi page on Benincasa hispida 


For its racemose male inflorescence in the first pic, please check Luffa Cylindrica (L.) Roem.


Luffa cylindrica


 

Images by tspkumar

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TSP-APR2016-17-317:Images of Luffa cylindrica (Cucurbitaceae) : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (6)

It is my pleasure to share few images of Luffa cylindrica (Cucurbitaceae 

Habit: Climbing herb 

Habitat: cultivated. 

Sighting: Chikmagalur, Karnataka, about 900 msl. 

Date: 06-07-2014


A popular vegetable probably throughout India.. thanks …for showing nice pics …!!

 

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Cucurbitaceae member : 6 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (3)

This climber plant location is Mahur, Dist Nanded Maharashtra
And it is edible fruit

Thanks, …  It’s Torai in hindi


Parsa dodka in marathi
Nati beera in telugu


Luffa cylindrica


id plz : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (2)

id of the plant plz

shot in sambalpur

I think it is luffa cylindrica


Same photographs and post ?
Ghiya Tori
Luffa aegyptiaca
Sponge Gourd

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id pl 1 : 8 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (2)

id of the plant plz

shot in sambalpur

Could be Momordica dioica; not sure.


Luffa aegyptiacaSponge Gourd

I think it is luffa cylindrica – from … in another thread. 


Yes, Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa cylindrica are are same. 

L. aegyptiaca is synonym.
 

 


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Luffa aegyptica Mill.: 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5)

 

Location Gyaneswor, Kathmandu, Nepal
Elevation :  4500 ft.
Date 11 November 2018

 

Habit : Cultivated 
 
Mumbai, MH :: Luffa aegyptica :: ARK2020-025 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (7)- around 550 kb each.
Saw Luffa aegyptica in a marshy area in Charkop, Mumbai, MH in October 2019.

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Wild luffa! : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (2)- 3 mb each.
This is wild luffa. It is far more bitter than a bitter gourd and Neem. People use small quantity of it to reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.
I am wondering if it is wild variety of L. cylindrica or it is separate species. It is not ridged like Luffa acutangula.
Thank you for your kind cooperation!

Yes it’s a wild variety of cylindrica …, it’s soo bitter,


Appears to be Luffa cylindrica (L.) M.Roem only as per details at Luffa


Thank you for your thoughts and help.
Yes, it is wild and bitter varieties of L. cylindrica

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Tree for Id – ID11062023SH1: Mixed thread: 2 correct images.
Location – Nagpur
Date – June 2023


I think this must be Luffa sp. … may be L. acutangula.
It is a climber.

the climber which you have mentioned – Luffa acutangula ( i.e.दोडका/तुरिया) is normally much longer.


the other day, I mentioned acutangula off-hand without checking.
I think it must rather be Luffa aegyptica (घोसाळी).

As for the climber, the compressed, winged seeds are typical of Luffa aegyptiaca [Cucurbitaceae].


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Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. :: Waghbil, Thane :: Feb 10, 2007 · JUN23 DV369:

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Waghbil, Thane :: Feb 10, 2007 · 11:15 AM IST :: about 3 m (10 ft) asl
Many thanks to leaf0605 for validating the ID at iNaturalist

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Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. :: Thane, Maharashtra :: Jan 7, 2007 · JUN23 DV475: 1 image.

Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Thane, Maharashtra :: Jan 7, 2007 · 9:53 AM IST :: about 11 m (36 ft) asl
Many thanks to Norbert Holstein for validating the ID at iNaturalist


 


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References:

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