Manihot esculenta
Manihot esculenta
Safety & Hazards
The leaves contain the harmful glucoside linamarin, which can release the toxic hydrocyanic acid in the presence of the enzyme linase[ 298 Title Edible Leaves of the Tropics Publication Author Martin. F. W.; Ruberte. R. M. & Meitzner. L. S. Publisher Echo. USA. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9653360-1-8 Description A terse guide, giving reasonable detail on the more common leaf crops and brief information on a wide range of lesser known plants. , 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. ]. This can be destroyed by heat[ 298 Title Edible Leaves of the Tropics Publication Author Martin. F. W.; Ruberte. R. M. & Meitzner. L. S. Publisher Echo. USA. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9653360-1-8 Description A terse guide, giving reasonable detail on the more common leaf crops and brief information on a wide range of lesser known plants. ]
Botanical Description
Manihot esculenta is a shrub growing around 3 metres tall. One of the most important of the cultivated tropical food crops, there is evidence that it was being cultivated for its leaves and corms in Peru 4,000 years ago[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Its cultivation gradually spread and now it is widely grown in tropical areas throughout the world, especially in lowland tropical regions[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 300 Title Vegetables in the Tropics Publication Author Tindall. H. D. Publisher MacMillan, Oxford. Year 1983 ISBN 0-333-24268-8 Description An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants. ].