Botanical identity
This taxon is documented in the World Checklist of Useful Plant Species with a reported medicinal use. The record establishes a use report and botanical index entry, not clinical effectiveness or individual safety.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderCucurbitales
FamilyCucurbitaceae
GenusLuffa
Scientific name with authorshipLuffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.
Indexed scientific synonyms
Cucumis acutangulus L.Cucumis lineatus BoscCucumis megacarpus G.DonCucumis operculatus Roxb.Cucumis operculatus Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.Cucurbita acutangula (L.) BlumeCucurbita campanulata D.Dietr.Cucurbita umbellata J.G.KleinCucurbita umbellata J.G.Klein ex Willd.Luffa acutamgula (L.) Roxb.Luffa acutangula f. amara (Roxb.) W.J.de Wilde & DuyfjesLuffa acutangula var. acutangulaLuffa acutangula var. amara (Roxb.) C.B.ClarkeLuffa acutangula var. forskalii (Schweinf. ex Harms) Heiser & E.E.Schill.Luffa amara Roxb.Luffa cattu-picinna Ser.Luffa drastica Mart.Luffa fluminensis M.Roem.Luffa fluminensis Roem.Luffa foetida Cav.Luffa forskalii Beck & F.AbelLuffa forskalii Schweinf.Luffa forskalii Schweinf. ex HarmsLuffa gosa Buch.-Ham.Luffa hermaphrodita N.B.Singh & U.C.Bhattach.Luffa kleinii Wight & Arn.Luffa plukenetiana Ser.Luffa tenera RoyleLuffa umbellata (J.G.Klein ex Willd.) M.Roem.Momordica luffa Vell.Momordica tubiflora Wall.Trichosanthes amara Blanco
Documented use categories
Medicine
Human food
Environmental use
Gene source
Material
Poison reported
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Evidence boundary
A taxonomic use record is a discovery and indexing signal. Clinical evidence must be assessed separately for the exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Correct identification is essential. Toxicity, contraindications, interactions and safe preparation cannot be inferred from a documented-use record.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier105280-3
Use codesEU GS HF MA ME PO
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Kew Economic Botany CollectionUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New GuineaPlant Resources of South-East AsiaPlant Resources for Tropical AfricaUseful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.