A new taxonomic variety of Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. (Cucurbitaceae): a wild sponge gourd from Odisha, India

Luffa aegyptiaca var. alba R.C.Misra, var. nov., a new taxonomic variety of wild sponge gourd, explored from Malkangiri and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha, India, is described based on morphology. The new variety shares morphological similarities with L. aegyptiaca Mill. var. aegyptiaca and L. acutangula Roxb. var. amara. However, it differs from the closely allied typical variety L. aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca Mill. mainly by its puberulous and scabrous stem, smaller leaves and petiole, smaller male raceme, male and female flowers and pedicel, smaller bract, calyx tube and acuminate calyx lobe, smaller fruits and white colour fewer seeds with wingless margin. It deviates from L. acutangula var. amara in possessing its orbicular-reniform leaves, puberulous petiole, deep yellow flowers, 5 stamens, smooth cylindrical ovary, ecostate, oblong-cylindric fruits and smooth white seeds. Detailed description, photographs and comparison of the diagnostic characters among three varieties are provided for easy identification of the taxon.