Home | > | List of cultivated families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Manihot | > | esculenta |
Synonyms: |
Jathropha manihot L. Manihot dulcis (J.F. Gmel.) Pax Manihot utilissima Pohl |
Common names: | |
Description: | Shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall, cultivated for its edible root tubers which are widely used as a staple food source. Stems brittle, branching dichotomously, often blueish-grey when young; whitish watery sap present. Leaves up to 15 × 25 cm, deeply divided into 3-7 oblanceolate lobes, dark green above, paler blue-green beneath, almost hairless or slighly pubescent near the midrib; margin entire; petiole up to 25 cm long, often reddish-purple. Inflorescences in lax terminal heads, 2-11 cm long. Flowers unisexual in the same inflorescence, greenish tinged orange-red and often with purplish veining. Fruit ellipsoid to subglobose, up to 17 × 15 mm, greenish, finely wrinkled, six-winged. |
Notes: | Cultivated for its edible root tubers which are widely used as a staple food source. |
Derivation of specific name: | esculenta: edible |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native probably in eastern South America; widely cultivated throughout tropical Africa and tropical regions elsewhere. |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Image last updated: | Monday 4 June 2012 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 461. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 150. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 49. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 244 - 246. (Includes a picture). Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 11. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 208. |
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