Plant DetailShow Menu

Cassava Manihot esculenta

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
MAN-ee-hoat es-kew-LEN-tah
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

A bushy herb or shrub with elongated tubers; leaves alternate, simple, deeply lobed; flowers inconspicuous; fruit a 6-angled globose capsule.  The raw tuberous roots are highly toxic but are edible once properly prepared and cooked.  Not commonly grown in NC.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#showy leaves#tuberous#edible garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#showy leaves#tuberous#edible garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Manihot
    Species:
    esculenta
    Family:
    Euphorbiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Extensively cultivated root crop in tropical and subtropical regions
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Brazil
    Edibility:
    EDIBLE PARTS: Tubers boiled and eaten or made into tapioca
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Poisonous
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    6-angled globose capsule; seeds are brown to grey with black patches
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Pink
    White
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Inconspicuous; separate male and female plants
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Deeply lobed; some variegated cultivars exist.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    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.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Cyanogenic glycosides linamarin and lotaustralin
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Roots