Introduction of Si Gua Luo: Luffa Vegetable Sponge
✵The article records the herb Luffa Vegetable Sponge—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. and (2) Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Luffa Vegetable Sponge; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Sī Guā Luò
English Name: Luffa Vegetable Sponge
Latin Name:Retinervus luffae fructus Property and Flavor: Cool, sweet
Brief Introduction:Retinervus luffae fructus is the dried vascular bundles of the ripe fruit of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem., used to dispel wind, unblock collateral meridians, and clear toxins. It is indicated for rheumatoid arthralgia with muscular contracture and mastitis. The herb is commonly known as Towel Gourd Vegetable Sponge, Vegetable Sponge of Luffa, or Sī Guā Luò.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Retinervus luffae fructus (Luffa Vegetable Sponge) as the dried vascular bundles of (1) Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. Other authoritative herbal classics include either (1) Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. or (2) Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. Both belong to the genus Luffa Mill., family Cucurbitaceae (cucumber, gourd, and squash family), order Cucurbitales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem.
Botanical Description:Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. is commonly known as Sī Guā. It is an annual climbing herb; stems and branches are coarse and rough, ridged, and puberulent. Stem tendrils are stout and pubescent, usually branched 2–4 times (at the angle). Leaves are alternate; petioles are rough, 10–12 cm long, and nearly glabrous; leaf blades are triangular or orbicular, averaging 10–20 cm in both length and width, typically palmately 5–7-lobed; lobes are triangular, with the central lobe longest (8–12 cm), acuminate at the apex, serrate at the margin, and deeply cordate at the base; the upper surface is dark green with wart-like spots (wart points); the lower surface is pale green and pubescent; venation is palmate and covered with white pilose hairs.
Flowers are unisexual and monoecious. Typically, 10–20 male flowers occur on the apex of racemes; peduncles are stout, 12–14 cm long, and pilose; pedicels are 1–2 cm long; the calyx tube is campanulate (bell-shaped), 0.5–0.9 cm in diameter, and pubescent; calyx lobes are ovate-lanceolate or subtriangular, reflexed outwardly at the apex, measuring ca. 0.8–1.3 cm long and 0.4–0.7 cm wide; the inner surface is densely pubescent, especially along the margin; the outer surface is glabrous; the apex is acuminate, and each lobe bears three veins. The corolla is yellow, rotate, 5–9 cm in diameter during anthesis, with five oblong lobes, each 0.8–1.3 cm long and 0.4–0.7 cm wide; the inner surface is densely covered with yellow-white villi; the outer surface exhibits 3–5 prominent veins, densely pubescent; the apex is obtuse, and the base is narrowed. There are five stamens (rarely three); filaments are 6–8 mm long, white-pubescent at the base, slightly connivent at early anthesis but fully separated at maturity; anther cells are reflexed. Female flowers are solitary; pedicels are 2–10 cm long; the perianth resembles that of the male flower; three staminodes are present; the ovary is elongated and terete, pubescent, with three stigmas that are enlarged.
Fruits are terete, straight or slightly curved, 15–30 cm long and 5–8 cm in diameter; the surface is smooth, often bearing dark longitudinal stripes; fruits are succulent when immature and dry when mature, containing reticulate fibers internally, and dehisce via a lid-like opening at the apex. Seeds are numerous, black, ovoid (egg-shaped), flattened, and smooth, with a narrowly aliform margin. Flowering and fruiting occur in summer and autumn.
Ecological Environment: The plant prefers moist conditions and is drought-sensitive; it thrives under strong sunlight but tolerates low light. It exhibits broad adaptability to soil types and can be cultivated in various soils. It is widely grown in temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
Growth Characteristics: Luffa cylindrica prefers a warm climate and tolerates high temperatures and humidity but is sensitive to cold. It adapts well to diverse soils; however, optimal cultivation occurs in deep, moist, sandy loam soils rich in organic matter. Barren soils are unsuitable.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of filamentous vascular bundles interwoven vertically and horizontally. It is mostly long prismatic or oblong, slightly curved, and tapered at both ends; lengths vary from 30–70 cm, with diameters of 5–10 cm. The surface is yellowish-white, coarse and rough, bearing several shallow longitudinal grooves; residual pericarp and membranous pulp are sometimes present. The herb is lightweight, with a tough and elastic texture—resistant to breaking—and exhibits three hollow loculi on the fracture surface; residual black seeds may occasionally be observed. It has a faint odor and a mild taste.
Medicinal efficacy: Unblocks collaterals, activates blood circulation, dispels wind, clears heat, resolves phlegm, detoxifies, and reduces swelling. It is indicated for arthralgia and muscular contracture, distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium, muscular spasm, insufficient lactation, abdominal pain, lumbago, testicular swelling and pain, lung-heat cough with sputum, amenorrhea in women, carbuncles, and hemorrhoidal fistula. The charred herb arrests bleeding and is indicated for hematochezia and menorrhagia.
Administration of Retinervus Luffae Fructus (Sī Guā Luò):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Retinervus Luffae Fructus (Sī Guā Luò)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally:4.5–9 grams; (2) Internally:water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈4.5–9 grams); alternatively, use the charred herb (with its properties preserved), ground into a fine powder. External application: apply the charred, finely powdered herb as a paste. (3) Internally:water decoction, 5–15 grams; or charred herb (properties preserved), 1.5–3 grams per dose. External application: apply an appropriate amount of the charred, finely powdered herb as a paste.
(2) Luffa Acutangula (L.) Roxb.
Botanical Description:Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. is commonly known as Léng Jiǎo Sī Guā. Its plant morphology is largely similar to that of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem., but the stem bears conspicuous ridges and angular edges; the lower portion of the stem tendrils is also angled. Male flowers possess three stamens: one stamen is unilocular, while the other two are bilocular. The ovary is clavate, angular, and glabrous. The fruit surface exhibits 8–10 longitudinal ridges. Seeds lack a narrowly aliform margin but have a shallowly bilobed base.
Ecological Environment: The plant is cultivated primarily in the Zhujiang River Basin, China.
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1.Introduction of Si Gua Luo: Luffa Vegetable Sponge
✵The article records the herb Luffa Vegetable Sponge—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. and (2) Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the macroscopic and microscopic features of the herb Luffa Vegetable Sponge; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Sī Guā Luò
Botanical Description: Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. is commonly known as Sī Guā. It is an annual climbing herb; stems and branches are coarse and rough, ridged, and puberulent. Stem tendrils are stout and pubescent, usually branched 2–4 times (at the angle). Leaves are alternate; petioles are rough, 10–12 cm long, and nearly glabrous; leaf blades are triangular or orbicular, averaging 10–20 cm in both length and width, typically palmately 5–7-lobed; lobes are triangular, with the central lobe longest (8–12 cm), acuminate at the apex, serrate at the margin, and deeply cordate at the base; the upper surface is dark green with wart-like spots (wart points); the lower surface is pale green and pubescent; venation is palmate and covered with white pilose hairs.
Fruits are terete, straight or slightly curved, 15–30 cm long and 5–8 cm in diameter; the surface is smooth, often bearing dark longitudinal stripes; fruits are succulent when immature and dry when mature, containing reticulate fibers internally, and dehisce via a lid-like opening at the apex. Seeds are numerous, black, ovoid (egg-shaped), flattened, and smooth, with a narrowly aliform margin. Flowering and fruiting occur in summer and autumn.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of filamentous vascular bundles interwoven vertically and horizontally. It is mostly long prismatic or oblong, slightly curved, and tapered at both ends; lengths vary from 30–70 cm, with diameters of 5–10 cm. The surface is yellowish-white, coarse and rough, bearing several shallow longitudinal grooves; residual pericarp and membranous pulp are sometimes present. The herb is lightweight, with a tough and elastic texture—resistant to breaking—and exhibits three hollow loculi on the fracture surface; residual black seeds may occasionally be observed. It has a faint odor and a mild taste.
Botanical Description: Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. is commonly known as Léng Jiǎo Sī Guā. Its plant morphology is largely similar to that of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem., but the stem bears conspicuous ridges and angular edges; the lower portion of the stem tendrils is also angled. Male flowers possess three stamens: one stamen is unilocular, while the other two are bilocular. The ovary is clavate, angular, and glabrous. The fruit surface exhibits 8–10 longitudinal ridges. Seeds lack a narrowly aliform margin but have a shallowly bilobed base.
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