What is Luffa?
{{italic title}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Luffa aegyptica.jpg | image_caption = Egyptian luffa with nearly mature fruit | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Luffa | authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''[[Luffa acutangula]]'' (angled luffa, ridged luffa, vegetable gourd) * ''[[Luffa aegyptiaca]]'' / ''[[Luffa cylindrica]]'' (smooth luffa, Egyptian luffa, dishrag gourd, gourd loofa) * ''[[Luffa operculata]]'' (wild loofa, sponge cucumber) | synonyms = *''Poppya'' <small>[[Neck.]] ex [[Max Joseph Roemer|M.Roem.]]</small> *''Trevauxia'' <small>[[Steud.]]</small>, orth. var. *''Trevouxia'' <small>[[Scop.]]</small> *''Torai'' <small>[[Forssk.]]</small> }} A '''luffa''' (also spelled '''loofah''' or '''loofa''') is a long thin dried inner part of the [[fruit]] of a [[tropical]] [[plant]] related to the [[cucumber]] . It is often used as a [[sponge]] for washing the body. Before it gets ripe, it is also a good [[vegetable]]. It also comes from dried corn on the cob stems. <gallery> Luffa operculata MHNT.BOT.2011.3.93.jpg|''Luffa operculata'' Luffa aegyptiaca MHNT.BOT.2011.3.94.jpg|''Luffa aegyptiaca'' File:Loofah.jpg|A luffa sponge </gallery> ==Other websites== {{wikispecies-inline|Luffa}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Tropical fruit]] [[Category:Cucurbitaceae]]