cassava

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cassava
• Cassave
• Sweet Cassava
• manioc tapioca
• Bitter Cassava
• Manioc
• Manoic
• Tapioca
• Tapioca Plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Manihot palmata var. flabellifolia
• Manihot dulcis
• Mandioca dulcis
• Jatropha aipi
• Mandioca aipi
• Manihot esculenta var. coalescens
• Mandioca utilissima
• Jatropha dulcis
• Janipha manihot
• Janipha aipi
• Jatropha diffusa
• Manihot esculenta var. argentea
• Jatropha digitiformis
• Manihot esculenta var. debilis
• Jatropha lobata var. richardiana
• Manihot esculenta var. digitifolia
• Jatropha mitis
• Jatropha loureiroi
• Manihot esculenta subsp. flabellifolia
• Jatropha manihot
• Manihot esculenta var. flavicaulis
• Jatropha paniculata
• Manihot esculenta var. fuscescens
• Jatropha silvestris
• Manihot esculenta subsp. grandifolia
• Jatropha stipulata
• Manihot esculenta var. nodosa
• Manihot digitiformis
• Manihot flabellifolia
• Manihot dulcis var. aipi
• Manihot dulcis var. diffusa
• Manihot diffusa
• Manihot cannabina
• Manihot aypi
• Manihot aipi
• Manihot aipi var. lanceolata
• Manihot aipi var. latifolia
• Manihot aipi var. lutescens
• Manihot flexuosa
• Manihot dulcis var. flabellifolia
• Manihot edule
• Manihot esculenta var. sprucei
• Manihot palmata var. aipi
• Manihot palmata var. diffusa
• Manihot palmata var. digitiformis
• Manihot melanobasis
• Manihot loureiroi
• Manihot utilissima
• Manihot utilissima var. castellana
• Manihot utilissima var. sutinga
• Manihot sprucei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Manihot esculenta, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Its specific taxonomic classification is completed by the genus Manihot.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Manihot esculenta, exhibits a diverse geographical range across several continents. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be identified within the country of Italy. Moving toward the African continent, the species is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it is found in the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Additionally, its distribution extends to the coastal region of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Manihot esculenta is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of environments, ranging from disturbed anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) to more natural landscapes such as open fields (Campo Limpo), the Cerrado biome (latu sensu), and coastal restinga ecosystems. This plant exhibits significant adaptability to varying altitudes, occupying an elevational range that starts from sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Manihot esculenta is characterized by a versatile lifecycle that can be classified as annual, biennial, or perennial, depending on the environmental conditions and cultivation practices. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the plant exhibits a complex life form; while it is often categorized within the phanerophyte group due to its woody stem structure during its active growth phases, it also demonstrates characteristics of a nanophanerophyte. This physiological flexibility allows the plant to adapt its stature and regenerative capabilities to various ecological niches, utilizing its underground storage organs to persist through unfavorable periods.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Manihot esculenta is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth form that ranges between a shrub and a subshrub. As a terrestrial organism, it functions as an independent species rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 1 m, a mean height of 2.75 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 6 m. Its structural habit is strictly self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a liana, vine, or climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

2.75 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Manihot esculenta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a lack of specialized mechanisms for nitrogen fixation or succulence. The vegetative architecture is defined by its leaf morphology, which exhibits significant variability in dimensions. The leaf length typically averages 13 cm, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean value of 2.75 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. Because the plant does not employ succulence to store water or nitrogen-fixing capabilities to enhance nutrient uptake, its physiological efficiency relies heavily on these specific leaf surface area parameters and its standard C3 metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Manihot esculenta is characterized by a flowering process involving green-colored flowers organized into inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. The pollination syndrome is primarily biotic, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dehiscent fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 1.65 cm (ranging from 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm) and a mean width of 1.25 cm (ranging from 1 cm to 1.5 cm). The seeds produced are relatively small, maintaining a consistent mass of approximately 0.114 g and reaching a maximum seed length of 10 mm. Dispersal of the progeny occurs through an unspecialized syndrome, though it is notably influenced by anthropochory, meaning human activity plays a significant role in the movement and spread of the species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.65 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.114 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Manihot esculenta has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Manihot esculenta has 80 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, STARCH, CALCIUM, FAT, IRON.

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Carbohydrate polymers
3. Food science & nutrition

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

FAT

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Tannins

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ABA

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

AMYLOPECTIN

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

AMYLOSE

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Activities

Manihot esculenta has 381 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Manihot esculenta has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Acne, Malnutrition, Women's health, abscesses.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations