luffa, dishcloth gourd, sponge gourd, rag gourd, strainer vine - any of several tropical annual climbers having large yellow flowers and edible young fruits; grown commercially for the mature fruit's dried fibrous interior that is used as a sponge --1is a kind ofvine --1is a member of genus Luffa --1has parts: loofa, loofah, luffa, loufah sponge --1has particulars: