The species is wild in Australia, on the banks of rivers in Queensland,[1332] and hence it is probable it will be found wild in the Asiatic Archipelago, where Rumphius, Miquel, etc., only mention it as a cultivated plant. Herbaria contain a great number of specimens from tropical Africa, from Mozambique to the coast of Guinea, and even as far as Angola, but collectors do not appear to have indicated whether they were cultivated or wild plants. In the Delessert herbarium, Heudelot indicates it as growing in fertile ground in the environs of Galam. Sir Joseph Hooker[1333] quotes this without affirming anything. Schweinfurth and Ascheron,[1334] who are always careful in this matter, say the species is only a cultivated one in the Nile Valley. This is curious, because the plant was seen in the seventeenth century in Egyptian gardens under the Arabian name of _luff_,[1335] whence the genus was called _Luffa_, and the species _Luffa ægyptica_. The ancient Egyptian monuments show no trace of it. The absence of a Hebrew name is another reason for believing that its cultivation was introduced into Egypt in the Middle Ages. It is now grown in the Delta, not only for the fruit but also for the export of the seed, from which a preparation is made for softening the skin. The species is cultivated in Brazil, Guiana, Mexico, etc., but I find no indication that it is indigenous in America. It appears to have been here and there naturalized, in Nicaragua for instance, from a specimen of Levy’s. In brief, the Asiatic origin is certain, the African very doubtful, that of America imaginary, or rather the effect of naturalization. +Angular Luffa+—_Luffa acutangula_, Roxburgh. The origin of this species, cultivated like the preceding one in all tropical countries, is not very clear, according to Naudin and Cogniaux.[1336] The first gives Senegal, the second Asia, and, doubtfully, Africa. It is hardly necessary to say that Linnæus[1337] was mistaken in indicating Tartary and China. Clarke, in Sir Joseph Hooker’s flora, says without hesitation that it is indigenous in British India. Rheede[1338] formerly saw the plant in sandy soil in Malabar. Its natural area seems to be limited, for Thwaites in Ceylon, Kurz in British Burmah, and Loureiro in China and Cochin-China,[1339] only give the species as cultivated, or growing on rubbish-heaps near gardens. Rumphius[1340] calls it a Bengal plant. No luffa has been long cultivated in China, according to a letter of Dr. Bretschneider. No Sanskrit name is known. All these are indications of a comparatively recent culture in Asia. A variety with bitter fruit is common in British India[1341] in a wild state, since there is no inducement to cultivate it. It exists also in the Sunda Islands. It is _Luffa amara_, Roxburgh, and _L. sylvestris_, Miquel. _L. subangulata_, Miquel, is another variety which grows in Java, which M. Cogniaux also unites with the others from authentic specimens which he saw.