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Manihot esculenta
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhancuco, lower slopes Mt Gorongosa
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Jathropha manihot L. Manihot dulcis (J.F. Gmel.) Pax Manihot utilissima Pohl |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | Occasionally naturalized |
| Status: | Introduced |
| 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 |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native probably in eastern South America; widely cultivated throughout tropical Africa and tropical regions elsewhere. |
| Mozambique distribution: | MS,M |
| Growth form: | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects (whose larvae eat this species): | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Monday 4 June 2012 |
| Literature: |
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 FZ 9(4) Pages 244 - 246. (Includes a picture). |
Other sources of information about Manihot esculenta:
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Manihot esculenta pageAfrican Plant Database: Manihot esculenta
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Manihot esculenta
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Manihot esculenta
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Manihot esculenta
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Manihot esculenta
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Manihot esculenta
JSTOR Plant Science: Manihot esculenta
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Manihot esculenta
Tropicos: Manihot esculenta
West African Plants database: Manihot esculenta
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