Cassava

Cassava/Tapioka

Scientific name: Manihot esculenta Crantz. Inst.

Local name: Kasava, ‘Simul-alu’

Taxonomic Position According to Cronquist (1981)

Botanical Description of Cassava

Habit: A glabrous or sparingly pubescent shrub

Root: Tap root converted into tuber, usually 5-10 storage roots.

Stem: Up to 5 m tall, the shoot show apical dominance which suppress the development of secondary shoot.

Leaf: Simple, palmately lobed, petiolated

Inflorescence: Terminal or axillary racemes

Flower: Male flower pedicillate, stamen 10

Fruit: Capsule

Chromosome number: 2n=36

Economic Importance

Roots, as great source of starch used for food and other industrial purposes.