We have found these "skeletons" of plants that I was clueless on...they look like loofahs, only not as dense of plant fibre, and were rounder and smaller. Leave it to my kids to identify them as from wild cucumbers (bur cucumber). I have never noticed them growing but will look for them out in this place next year!

Question: has anyone ever used them as "loofahs"? I have wet one, and they seem to work the same way only gentler on the skin, and they obviously are tiny little things. I know loofahs are cheap enough, but it is sort of fun to have these growing on the land to gather. If you have used them this way, out of curiosity do you know how long they last? Obviously, i can use them until they wear out and find out on my own, but right now, today, i am just completely curious about others experiences with these!

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), January 15, 2002

Answers

You can get loofah seeds and grow them .I have never heard of a good use for them , sorry

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

I have a wild cucumber that grows everywhere in the summer, ours is also called 'Manroot' because the root can be 6 feet long

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

In Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, they list a wild gourd called Japanese nest egg gourd as growing wild in the Ozarks. Apparently it was popular in the 1800's. Might try a specialty store or spa, if you want to market them. I'd thought about raising some of them a couple of years ago.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

Cool, a new plant! I've never heard of before, how did your children identify them?

-- Thumper (slrldr@yahoo.com), January 16, 2002.

Kids and wild cucumbers - that spells trouble where I come from. We used to throw them at each other, and they are absolutely wicked in a sling shot. They are covered with spines and they hurt like heck. Good cheap country fun. The plant is a fast growing vine, yellow frothy blossoms, chartreuse coloured leaves and stems that provide interesting contrast when growing up darker green trees. They are quite invasive, but die back every fall (at least up here in Northern Ontario they do). They don't seem to strangle out a host plant like grapevine, at least from what I've seen.

-- Bernadette Kerr (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.