Show Lower Taxa
Luffa acutangula
Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 3: 713. 1832.
Common names: Sponge or ridged gourd Sinkwa towel sponge Chinese squash
Introduced
Basionym: Cucumis acutangulus Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 2: 1011. 1753
Distribution
La., Va., Asia (India, Pakistan), introduced also in West Indies (Puerto Rico).
Discussion
Varieties 2 (1 in the flora).
Variety amara (Roxburgh) C. B. Clarke is native in India and Pakistan; compared to the typical variety, it has leaves small and softly villous, petal apices round or scarcely emarginate, and fruits smaller and obovoid-oblong. The range and magnitude of difference suggests that var. amara may be justifiably treated as a distinct species, depending on the degree of isolation.
Selected References
None.