Manihot esculenta

• Botanical Name : Manihot esculenta Crantz
• Synonyms : Jatropha manihot L.
• Common Name : Tapioca, Cassava, Brazil Arrowroot, Shakarkand
• Plant Family : Euphorbiaceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 5, 16
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park

About Manihot esculenta Plant :

• Habit : A small herbaceous shrub with fleshy tuberous roots.
• Leaves : Deeply lobed, lanceolate, acuminate, hairy.
• Inflorescence : Axillary and terminal panicles.
• Fruit : Capsule, wing-angled.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : January-May
• Significance :
  • The tuberous roots contain much starch and form valuable food.
  • They contain prussic acid when fresh but this is removed by boiling.