Cassava

Cassava
Tuber (waxed)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Manihot
Species:	M. esculenta
Binomial name
Manihot esculenta Crantz[1]
Synonyms[1]
Janipha aipi (Pohl) J.Presl Janipha manihot (L.) Kunth Jatropha aipi (Pohl) Göpp. Jatropha diffusa (Pohl) Steud. Jatropha digitiformis (Pohl) Steud. Jatropha dulcis J.F.Gmel. Jatropha flabellifolia (Pohl) Steud. Jatropha loureiroi (Pohl) Steud. Jatropha manihot L. Jatropha mitis Rottb. Jatropha paniculata Ruiz & Pav. ex Pax Jatropha silvestris Vell. Jatropha stipulata Vell. Mandioca aipi (Pohl) Link Mandioca dulcis (J.F.Gmel.) D.Parodi Mandioca utilissima (Pohl) Link Manihot aipi Pohl Manihot aypi Spruce Manihot cannabina Sweet Manihot diffusa Pohl Manihot digitiformis Pohl Manihot dulcis (J.F.Gmel.) Baill. Manihot edule A.Rich. Manihot edulis A.Rich. Manihot flabellifolia Pohl Manihot flexuosa Pax & K.Hoffm. Manihot loureiroi Pohl Manihot melanobasis Müll. Arg. Manihot sprucei Pax Manihot utilissima Pohl

Manihot esculenta, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions as an annual crop for its edible starchy root tuber. Cassava is predominantly consumed in boiled form, but substantial quantities are processed to extract cassava starch, called tapioca, which is used for food, animal feed, and industrial purposes. The Brazilian farinha, and the related garri of West Africa, is an edible coarse flour obtained by grating cassava roots, pressing moisture off the obtained grated pulp, and finally drying it (and roasting in the case of both farinha and garri).

Cassava is the third-largest source of carbohydrates in food in the tropics, after rice and maize, making it an important staple; more than 500 million people depend on it. It offers the advantage of being exceptionally drought-tolerant, and able to grow productively on poor soil. The largest producer is Nigeria, while Thailand is the largest exporter of cassava starch.

Cassava is grown in sweet and bitter varieties; both contain toxins, but the bitter varieties have them in much larger amounts. Cassava has to be prepared carefully for consumption, as improperly prepared material can contain sufficient cyanide to cause poisoning. The more toxic varieties of cassava have been used in some places as famine food during times of food insecurity. Farmers may however choose bitter cultivars to minimise crop losses.