Luffa acutangula, commonly called angled luffa, ridge gourd, or Chinese okra, is a climbing vine in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). The genus name Luffa is derived from the Arabic لوف (lūf), referring to edible gourds and their fibrous structure. The species epithet acutangula comes from Latin, meaning “sharply angled” or “with acute angles,” describing the ridged shape of the fruit. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated in India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other tropical regions. The immature fruits, which have characteristic ridges running lengthwise, are eaten as a vegetable in stir-fries, soups, curries, and stews. Unlike its close relative Luffa aegyptiaca, which is more often used for sponges, Luffa acutangula is primarily a culinary crop.

Historically, angled luffa has been an important subsistence and market vegetable across Asia, prized for its tender flesh and mild flavor. Its young shoots and flowers are also edible, while the mature fruits are too fibrous for food but sometimes used in traditional remedies. It has played a key role in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for jaundice, skin conditions, and inflammation.