Find Your Ask The Expert: Luffa
I just want to know whether luffa is monocot or dicot. Based on my understanding, it is a dicot plant, but my lecturer said that luffa is monocot plant. can someone help? – Zulaikha
Plant Expert Reply:
Zulaikha,
I can understand the confusion. As a member of the Cucrbitaceae family, Luffa (sponge gourd) is classified as a Dicotyledons by the USDA NRCS. However, I have seen people classify this plant as a eudicots. I am not sure why they do this other than changes made by the APG system in 1998. Some former dicots were reclassified to eudicots. These changes are highly controversial.
Picture of luffa from Clemson University website.
I personally would classify them as a dicot. Hope this information is helpful. If anyone has any information about Luffa that would help clear-up the confusion, please send us your comments.
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