Cassava Manihot esculenta
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAN-ee-hoat es-kew-LEN-tah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Poisonous
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- 6-angled globose capsule; seeds are brown to grey with black patches
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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
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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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
