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Latin Name: Manihot esculenta
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Other names: Yuca, Manioc, Cassava tapioca
Culinary use
Cassava is one of the most important cultivated tropical food crops. Its tuberous roots are high in carbohydrates and are eaten cooked in a variety of dishes. They are also fried as chips and processed into a flour called tapioca. The young leaves can be eaten cooked as a spinach-like vegetable. The roots and leaves are toxic when raw and need to be cooked before eating.
Medicinal use
Cassava is believed to have antifungal, antiviral, mutagenic, and antibacterial properties. It has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health problems, including diarrhea, dysentery, constipation, and indigestion.