 The fully developed fruit is the source of the loofah scrubbing sponge which is used in bathrooms and kitchens.The name "luffa" was taken by European botanists in the 17th century from the Egyptian Arabic name "lūf".The fruit section of "L. aegyptiaca" may be allowed to mature and used as a bath or kitchen sponge after being processed to remove everything except the network of xylem fibers.