,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
,r\/*> - National Science Foundation
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
12. LufTa acutangula Roxb. Hort Beng. 70. 1814. (Fig. 170).<br />
Cucumis acutanguhsus Linn.—Luffa foetida Cav.—Momordica iuffa Linn.<br />
CUCURBITACEAE<br />
Sinh. Daravelakolu. Vetakolu; Tarn. Peeram, Pckankai, Peyppichukku, Pekunkai;<br />
Hindi Jinga. Sataputitorai, Torai, Turi; Sans. Dhamargowa, Dharaphala, Dirghaphala,<br />
Gramya, Jalini. Jhingaka, Karkotaki, Koshataki, Kritawcdhana, Laghukoshataki, Pitapushpa.<br />
Rajakoshataki, Rajimatphala, Saptaputri, Sukosha, Supushpa, Svaduphala.<br />
A stout annual, climbing by means of tendrils, stems 5-angled, glabrous, often scabrid,<br />
tendrils 3-fid and the young parts slightly pubescent; leaves simple, alternate, large, pale green,<br />
6—23 cm long and as broad, orbicular in outline, very cordate at base, usually more or less<br />
palmatifid, lobes acute, distantly denticulate, finely scabrous on both sides; nerves and veins<br />
prominent beneath; petioles 1.5—6 cm long, angular, slightly scabrous; male flowers many in<br />
axillary, 12—20-flowercd racemes, each flower carrying a small, fleshy bract near the base bearing<br />
3 or 4 large immersed glands; calyx fused at the base with the base of the corolla to form a<br />
campanulate tube, segments 5 or 6, 9—9.5 mm long, 3.5—4 mm broad, lanceolate, hairy with<br />
or without immersed glands; petals 5 or 6, free on the calyx-tube, infolded, hairy on both sides;<br />
stamens 3 or 4, epipetalous, filaments hairy; female flowers solitary in the same axils as the males<br />
or separate, ovary inferior, 2.5—3 cm long, strongly 10-ridged, style short, thick, stigmas<br />
3, large, bilobed; fruit 15—30 cm long, clavate-oblong tapering to the base, very obtuse,<br />
smooth, longitudinally ribbed or almost winged with 10 sharp angles or ridges; seeds numerous,<br />
1 .2 cm long, oblong—ovoid, much compressed, slightly corrugated on the sides and black in<br />
colour.<br />
Flowers almost all the year round.<br />
Illustration. Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 449. 1933.<br />
Distribution. Indigenous in India and in Malay Archipelago. It is frequently cultivated<br />
in Ceylon in the mid and low-country and also in other tropical countries.<br />
India. Buysman, Sept. 1899. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1624, Eastern Prov., Thwaites CP.<br />
1623; Central Prov., Peradeniya, cultivated, Herb. Peradeniya, Feb. 1898. Indo-China. Hue<br />
and vicinity, Squires 308, Jan.—May 1927.<br />
Composition. The fruit contains an amorphous bitter principle, luffeine and it is a good<br />
source of iron, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B. The seeds contain a fixed oil which consists<br />
of the glycerides of palmitic, stearic and myristic acids. Both vegetative and reproductive organs<br />
contain hydrocyanic acid.<br />
Uses. The fruit is cooked and consumed as a vegetable. The bruised leaves are applied<br />
locally to splenitis, haemorrhoids and leprosy and the expressed juice dropped into the eyes of<br />
children for granular conjunctivitis. The fruit is used in combination with other drugs in the<br />
treatment of snake-bites. The dried fruits are powdered and made into a snuff for<br />
treating jaundice. In Mauritius, the seed is used as a strong purgative, the active principle<br />
being elaterin. The oil extracted from the dry seeds is used in skin diseases. The root is used<br />
as a purgative in Russia and in India, while in the latter country it is used for dropsy as well.<br />
Both fruit and seeds are toxic to fish.<br />
The fibre is used for making hats in Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana.<br />
147