Luffa operculata

Luffa operculata (common name, Sponge Cucumber, Wild Loofa or mướp xơ in Vietnamese) is a species of Luffa. It is cultivated for its fruit, which when fully ripe is strongly fibrous and is used as a fibrous scrubbing sponge for household cleaning. The fruit is a capsule with spikes. The fruit is dark-brown when mature. It is also grown in gardens and yards as an ornamental plant. In colder places they can be grown indoors as a houseplant.

The species name is derived from the word, operculum, meaning "little lid." When the fruits are mature, and the seeds are ready to be dispersed, a small part of the bottom tip (blossom end) opens up. Then, the seeds fall to the ground.

This annual climber has an angular stem and can grow to a height of three metres. Its kidney and heart-shaped leaves have three to five lobes and are 10 to 12 cm in length. The stamenless pale yellow flowers, which are to be found on the leaf axils, produce a pointed   cylindrical fruit about the size of a plum. On the lengthways ribs, the grey, pumpkin-like fruit is covered in short prickles. The fruit's interior contains pithy tissue, a finely woven fibrous tissue and pale-brown, flat seeds.
Luffa originates from Columbia, Peru, Brazil and Mexico and is cultivated in areas where it occurs naturally.
A.Vogel uses a homeopathic dilution in accordance with the current Homoopathisches Arzneibuch (HAB) (New Official Homoeopathic Pharmacopeia). The dried fruits of Luffa operculata L. are used.

In its country of origint, the spongy tissue of the dried fruit is used as a medicinal remedy and as a cosmetic sponge