Luf"fa (?), n. [NL., fr. Ar.
lūfah.] (Bot.) (a) A small
genus of tropical cucurbitaceous plants having white flowers, the
staminate borne in racemes, and large fruits with a dry fibrous
pericarp. The fruit of several species and the species themselves,
esp. L. Ægyptiaca, are called dishcloth
gourds. (b) Any plant of this genus, or
its fruit. (c) The fibrous skeleton of the
fruit, used as a sponge and in the manufacture of caps and women's
hats; -- written also loofah.
Luf"fa (?), n. [NL., fr. Ar.
lūfah.] (Bot.) (a) A small
genus of tropical cucurbitaceous plants having white flowers, the
staminate borne in racemes, and large fruits with a dry fibrous
pericarp. The fruit of several species and the species themselves,
esp. L. Ægyptiaca, are called dishcloth
gourds. (b) Any plant of this genus, or
its fruit. (c) The fibrous skeleton of the
fruit, used as a sponge and in the manufacture of caps and women's
hats; -- written also loofah.