Ghia Torai / Sponge Gourd
Luffa aegyptiaca
Also known as Smooth Loofah, Vegetable Sponge
- Habit
- Climber
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha & more
- Flowering
- February-December
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Luffa aegyptiaca
- Genus
- Luffa
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Habit
- Climber
- Habitat
- Forest margins and wastelands
- Distribution
- Tropical Old World
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat
- Flowering & fruiting
- February-December
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Typical of the Cucurbitaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Cucurbitaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- घिया तोरई Ghia torai, घेवड़ा
- Bengali
- ধুন্দল, ধুঁদুল
- Tamil
- மெழுகு பீர்க்கங்காய், பீர்க்கு, பீரம்
- Telugu
- Neyangnattakolu
- Kannada
- ತುಪ್ಪಹೀರೆ Tuppaheere ತಿಪ್ರಿ Tipri
- Marathi
- घोसाळे Ghosale, पालो Palo, घोसाळे
About Ghia Torai
Sponge Gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca) is a climber belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family (Cucumber/Gourd family). Members of this family are generally characterised by alternate simple/lobed leaves, solitary/racemose flower clusters, pepo (gourd/berry) fruit. It is typically found in forest margins and wastelands. It occurs across Tropical Old World. Flowering and fruiting are typically seen during February-December. The species is valued in traditional medicine.
Cucurbitaceae
Cucumber/Gourd family
Ghia Torai belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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