Manihot esculenta: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Extensively cultivated root crop in tropical and subtropical regions
Plant Profile: Manihot esculenta
Taxonomy: Manihot esculentaNames
Cassava, Manioc, Tapioca, Yuca
Phonetic Spelling:MAN-ee-hoat es-kew-LEN-tah
Genus:Manihot
Species:esculenta
Family:Euphorbiaceae
A dense herb or shrub featuring elongated tubers; its leaves are arranged alternately, simple, and deeply lobed. The flowers are not particularly noticeable, and the fruit takes the form of a six-angled, round capsule. While the raw tuberous roots are extremely poisonous, they can be safely consumed when adequately prepared and cooked. This plant is not widely cultivated in North Carolina.
Manihot esculenta Feature Summary
Manihot esculenta Image Gallery
Tags
#poisonous
#showy leaves
#tuberous
#food source
#edible garden
Similar Plants
Manihot esculenta Feature Summary
Attributes
Extensively cultivated root crop in tropical and subtropical regions
EDIBLE PARTS: Tubers boiled and eaten or made into tapioca
Perennial
Fruit
6-angled globose capsule; seeds are brown to grey with black patches
Capsule
Flowers
Inconspicuous; separate male and female plants
Pink
White
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
4-5 petals/rays
< 1 inch
Leaves
Deeply lobed; some variegated cultivars exist.
Green
Variegated
Simple
Alternate
Lobed
Poisonous to Humans
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Raw tubers and root peelings cause weak and irregular breathing, weakness, excitement, depression, staggering, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, and coma of short duration.
Cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin
High
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Poisonous
Stem
Landscape
Edible Garden
Poisonous to Humans
Manihot esculenta Image Gallery
Manihot esculenta Attributes
Manihot esculenta: Country Or Region Of Origin
Brazil
Manihot esculenta: Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Tubers boiled and eaten or made into tapioca
Manihot esculenta: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Manihot esculenta Fruit
Manihot esculenta: Fruit Description
6-angled globose capsule; seeds are brown to grey with black patches
Manihot esculenta: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Manihot esculenta Flowers
Manihot esculenta: Flower Description
Inconspicuous; separate male and female plants
Manihot esculenta: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Insignificant
Pink
White
Manihot esculenta: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Manihot esculenta: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Manihot esculenta Leaves
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Description
Deeply lobed; some variegated cultivars exist.
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Color
Green
Variegated
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Manihot esculenta: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Manihot esculenta: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Manihot esculenta Poisonous to Humans
Manihot esculenta: Poison Symptoms
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Raw tubers and root peelings cause weak and irregular breathing, weakness, excitement, depression, staggering, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, and coma of short duration.
Manihot esculenta: Poison Toxic Principle
Cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin
Manihot esculenta: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Manihot esculenta: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Manihot esculenta: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Manihot esculenta Whole Plant Traits
Manihot esculenta: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Manihot esculenta Stem
Manihot esculenta: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Manihot esculenta Landscape
Manihot esculenta: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Manihot esculenta: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
