Silk Gourd
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Vegetables
Silk Gourd
Latin:
Luffa cylindrica
Origin:
Silk gourd is the fresh tender fruit of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. (smooth-fruited luffa), the same as Luffa aegyptiaca Mill., and Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. (angled luffa), belonging to the marrow (Cucurbitaceae) family. Luffa is the genus name for this group of gourds. It is a warm season, cold sensitive genus originating in India. Both species now grow throughout the tropics.
Both luffas are valued as food items in the East, but are seldom eaten in the West. Most gardeners in the West grow them for their fibrous interior, which is useful as a rough cloth or sponge for cleaning and scouring. The two species are somewhat similar in appearance. Both are vigorous, climbing, annual vines with several lobed cucumber-like leaves. When crushed, the leaves give off a rank odor.
Both male and female flowers occur on the plant with a much greater number of male flowers. The rather large male flowers are bright yellow and occur in clusters. The female flowers are solitary and have the tiny slender ovary attached. Angled luffa flowers appear later in the day than the smooth type and stay open through the night. Bees pollinate the flowers. Being cold sensitive, luffas should be grown during the warm season. Leaves are covered with short stiff hairs.
Smooth luffa fruits are shaped like cucumbers but are larger, 0.3-0.6 m in length and 8-12 cm thick. The exterior is green, sometimes mottled, and smooth with longitudinal lines. Fruits of the angled luffa are characterized by sharp, elevated ridges running the length of the pods. The interiors of both are cucumber-like when immature, but quickly develop a network of fibers surrounding a large number of flat blackish seeds. Smooth luffa seeds are a bit more narrow and have a pitted appearance.
Also called Sponge Gourd, Vegetable Sponge, Towel Gourd, Dishcloth Gourd, Running Okra, Chinese Okra, California Okra, Strainer Vine, and Loofah.
Properties:
Sweet in flavor, cool in nature, it is related to the channels of the lung, liver and stomach.
Functions:
Clears away pathogenic heat, detoxifies, cools the blood, removes wind, resolves phlegm, clears channels.
Applications:
Silk gourd is used to treat fever, restlessness and thirst during the course of febrile diseases, dyspnea (difficult or labored respiration) and cough due to phlegm retention, fresh blood in stools and profuse leukorrhea, strangury (a slow and painful spasmodic discharge of urine drop by drop) with blood, furuncle, galactostasis, carbuncle and swelling.
Dosage and Administration:
To be eaten cooked, or decocted for oral administration, or pounded to get its juice for application to the affected part.
Small (less than 12 cm long) young luffa gourds are used as a vegetable either prepared like squash or eaten raw like cucumbers. Some varieties are sweeter than others, particularly of the smooth type.
Cautions on Use:
Those who suffer from debility with endogenous cold should not eat it excessively.
Bitter types should not be eaten, as some poisonous properties have been reported.
Reference Materials:
Toxic or Side Effects:
Bitter types should not be eaten, as some poisonous properties have been reported.
Modern Researches:
Silk gourd contains saponin, mucus, citrulline, xylan, fat, vitamins B and C.
The tea of the leaves is used as a diuretic, while juice of the fruit is used against internal hemorrhage.
The seeds have laxative properties.
Best sponges come from mature-green silk gourds, although dry fruits may be used. The fruits should be soaked for several days and then peeled. Once cleaned, the sponges should be bleached and then dried in the sun. Sponges have been used for cleaning, filtering, and bathing.