A Note on Debatable Taxonomic Identity of Luffa tuberosa Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae): A Potential Wild Edible Vegetable in India

Abstract

Luffa tuberosa Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae) is of great interest to taxonomists due to its debatable taxonomic status
under the genus Luffa and Momordica. The systematic study was attempted to provide evidence supporting
inclusion of L. tuberosa Roxb. under Momordica as M. tuberosa (Roxb.) Cogn. (syn M. cymbalaria Hk.f.). In the
present investigation comparison was made among some neglected morphological characters using 16 accessions
of Luffa and six of Momordica. These characters were fruit peduncle shape, nature of pericarp, ornamentation
of fruit wall, seed structure and seed dispersal mechanism