November 9, 2010

Petola or Sponge Gourd

Image result for old gourds for loofahImage result for old gourds for loofah


The natives of Sarawak grow this luffa or sponge gourd and use luffa for bathing and cleaning.

The luffa gourd is very easy to plant. Hence when people visit longhouses, they can take luffa home as souvenirs. The longhouse people are only too happy to give them away.

Luffa gourd is a good vegetable. It can be easily cooked as a soup or as a stir fry. Besides the Ibans and other ethnic groups love to eat the young shoots, and flowers too. Luffa gourd is eaten when it is still immature. The gourds that are allowed to grow old or very mature will be dried up and use as sponge.

Luffa gourd is a good climbing plant and can bear as many as 50 fruits in a season. When its time is over it will wilt and die.


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