 As with bitter melon, many people grow it outside building windows as a natural sunscreen in summer.In China and Taiwan (where it is called , or in English, "silk melon"), Indonesia (where it is called "oyong"), and the Philippines (where it is called "patola") and Manipur, India, (where it is called "sebot") the luffa is eaten as a green vegetable in various dishes.It is also known as "Chinese okra" in Canada and the U.S.