161 Species in Genus Manihot

Manihot: A Deep Dive with Ferb Vu

The world of botany is a fascinating one, filled with diverse and intriguing plant life. As a plant enthusiast, I’m always eager to delve deeper into the intricacies of different genera, and today, I’m excited to explore the genus Manihot with you.

Manihot is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. This genus boasts a diverse array of species, primarily woody shrubs and trees, though a few herbaceous plants are also included. The most famous member of this genus is undoubtedly Manihot esculenta, more commonly known as cassava. This starchy root crop is a staple food for millions of people across the globe, particularly in tropical regions.

A Closer Look at Manihot

Manihot species are native to the Americas, with a distribution spanning from the southwestern United States all the way down to Argentina. These plants thrive in warm climates and exhibit a remarkable ability to tolerate drought conditions. They are characterized by their milky sap, which contains cyanogenic glycosides. While these compounds can be toxic if consumed in large quantities, traditional processing methods effectively remove them, rendering the cassava root safe to eat.

Notable Species within the Manihot Genus

The Manihot genus encompasses a vast array of species, each with its own unique characteristics and uses. Here are:

1. Manihot esculenta (Cassava): This species is the most economically important member of the genus, cultivated for its starchy, edible roots. Cassava is a staple food in many tropical regions and is also used to produce tapioca and animal feed.
2. Manihot grahamii (Graham’s Manihot): This species is a fast-growing shrub native to South America. It is known for its ornamental value, with attractive lobed leaves and fragrant flowers.
3. Manihot acuminatissima Müll.Arg.
4. Manihot aesculifolia (Kunth) Pohl
5. Manihot allemii M.J.Silva
6. Manihot alterniflora P.Carvalho & M.Martins
7. Manihot alutacea D.J.Rogers & Appan
8. Manihot angustiloba (Torr.) Müll.Arg.
9. Manihot anisophylla (Griseb.) Müll.Arg.
10. Manihot anomala Pohl
11. Manihot appanii M.J.Silva
12. Manihot arenaria M.Mend.
13. Manihot attenuata Müll.Arg.
14. Manihot auriculata McVaugh
15. Manihot australis M.Mend. & Orlandini
16. Manihot baccata Allem
17. Manihot bellidifolia P.Carvalho & M.Martins
18. Manihot boliviana Pax & K.Hoffm.
19. Manihot brachyandra Pax & K.Hoffm.
20. Manihot brachyloba Müll.Arg.
21. Manihot brachystachys Pax & K.Hoffm.
22. Manihot brasiliana M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
23. Manihot breviloba P.Carvalho & M.Martins
24. Manihot caerulescens Pohl
25. Manihot carthagenensis (Jacq.) Müll.Arg.
26. Manihot catingae Ule
27. Manihot caudata Greenm.
28. Manihot cecropiifolia Pohl
29. Manihot cezarii M.Martins
30. Manihot chlorosticta Standl. & Goldman
31. Manihot coimbrana M.Mend.
32. Manihot compositifolia Allem
33. Manihot condensata D.J.Rogers & Appan
34. Manihot confertiflora M.J.Silva
35. Manihot congesta M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
36. Manihot corymbiflora Pax & K.Hoffm.
37. Manihot crassisepala Pax & K.Hoffm.
38. Manihot crotalariiformis Pohl
39. Manihot davisiae Croizat
40. Manihot debilis M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
41. Manihot decurrens M.Mend. & M.Martins
42. Manihot diamantinensis Allem
43. Manihot dichotoma Ule
44. Manihot divergens Pohl
45. Manihot ebracteata M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
46. Manihot elongata P.Carvalho & M.Martins
47. Manihot epruinosa Pax & K.Hoffm.
48. Manihot erecta M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
49. Manihot fabianae M.Mend.
50. Manihot falcata D.J.Rogers & Appan
51. Manihot fallax M.J.Silva & L.S.Inocencio
52. Manihot filamentosa Pittier
53. Manihot flemingiana D.J.Rogers & Appan
54. Manihot foetida (Kunth) Pohl
55. Manihot fortalezensis Nassar, D.G.Ribeiro, Bomfim & P.T.C.Gomes
56. Manihot fruticulosa (Pax) D.J.Rogers & Appan
57. Manihot gabrielensis Allem
58. Manihot glauca M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
59. Manihot gracilis Pohl
60. Manihot graminiformis M.Mend.
61. Manihot gratiosa M.J.Silva
62. Manihot guaranitica Chodat & Hassl.
63. Manihot hahnii M.Martins & T.Silveira
64. Manihot handroana Cruz
65. Manihot hassleriana Chodat
66. Manihot heptaphylla Ule
67. Manihot hilariana Baill.
68. Manihot hunzikeriana Mart.Crov.
69. Manihot incisa M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
70. Manihot inflata Müll.Arg.
71. Manihot inflexa M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
72. Manihot irwinii D.J.Rogers & Appan
73. Manihot jacobinensis Müll.Arg.
74. Manihot janiphoides Müll.Arg.
75. Manihot jolyana Cruz
76. Manihot kalungae M.J.Silva & Sodré
77. Manihot leptophylla Pax & K.Hoffm.
78. Manihot linearifolia Müll.Arg.
79. Manihot longepetiolata Pohl
80. Manihot longiracemosa P.Carvalho & M.Martins
81. Manihot lourdesiae M.J.Silva
82. Manihot luxurians M.J.Silva
83. Manihot macrocarpa P.Carvalho & M.Martins
84. Manihot maracasensis Ule
85. Manihot marajoara Huber
86. Manihot mattogrossensis Pax & K.Hoffm.
87. Manihot mcvaughii V.W.Steinm.
88. Manihot membranacea Pax & K.Hoffm.
89. Manihot michaelis McVaugh
90. Manihot minima M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
91. Manihot minimiflora M.J.Silva
92. Manihot mirabilis Pax
93. Manihot montana M.J.Silva
94. Manihot mossamedensis Taub.
95. Manihot nana Müll.Arg.
96. Manihot neusana Nassar
97. Manihot nogueirae Allem
98. Manihot oaxacana D.J.Rogers & Appan
99. Manihot obovata J.Jiménez Ram.
100. Manihot oligantha Pax & K.Hoffm.
101. Manihot orbicularis Pohl
102. Manihot pachycaulis M.J.Silva
103. Manihot palmata Müll.Arg.
104. Manihot pandurata M.Martins & M.Mend.
105. Manihot pauciflora Brandegee
106. Manihot paviifolia Pohl
107. Manihot peltata Pohl
108. Manihot pentaphylla Pohl
109. Manihot peruviana Müll.Arg.
110. Manihot pilosa Pohl
111. Manihot pinatiloba M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
112. Manihot pohliana Müll.Arg.
113. Manihot pohlii Wawra
114. Manihot populifolia Pax
115. Manihot porphyrantha M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
116. Manihot pringlei S.Watson
117. Manihot procumbens Müll.Arg.
118. Manihot pruinosa Pohl
119. Manihot pseudoglaziovii Pax & K.Hoffm.
120. Manihot pulchrifolius M.J.Silva
121. Manihot purpurea M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
122. Manihot purpureocostata Pohl
123. Manihot pusilla Pohl
124. Manihot quinquefolia Pohl
125. Manihot quinqueloba Pohl
126. Manihot quinquepartita Huber ex D.J.Rogers & Appan
127. Manihot reflexifolia P.Carvalho & M.Martins
128. Manihot reniformis Pohl
129. Manihot reptans Pax
130. Manihot rhomboidea Müll.Arg.
131. Manihot robusta M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
132. Manihot rubricaulis I.M.Johnst.
133. Manihot sagittata M.Mend. & M.Martins
134. Manihot sagittatopartita Pohl
135. Manihot salicifolia Pohl
136. Manihot saxatilis M.J.Silva & Sodré
137. Manihot scandens L.S.Inocencio & M.J.Silva
138. Manihot sparsifolia Pohl
139. Manihot stellata M.Mend.
140. Manihot stipularis Pax
141. Manihot striata M.Mend. & M.Martins
142. Manihot stricta Baill.
143. Manihot subspicata D.J.Rogers & Appan
144. Manihot surinamensis D.J.Rogers & Appan
145. Manihot takape De Egea & Peña-Chocarro
146. Manihot tenella Müll.Arg.
147. Manihot tomatophylla Standl.
148. Manihot tombadorensis M.Mend. & T.B.Cavalc.
149. Manihot tomentosa Pohl
150. Manihot triloba (Sessé) McVaugh ex Miranda
151. Manihot tripartita (Spreng.) Müll.Arg.
152. Manihot triphylla Pohl
153. Manihot tristis Müll.Arg.
154. Manihot variifolia Pax & K.Hoffm.
155. Manihot veadeirensis M.J.Silva
156. Manihot violacea Pohl
157. Manihot walkerae Croizat
158. Manihot websteri D.J.Rogers & Appan
159. Manihot weddelliana Baill.
160. Manihot xavantinensis D.J.Rogers & Appan
161. Manihot zehntneri Ule

The Importance of Manihot

The Manihot genus, particularly cassava, plays a crucial role in global food security. This drought-tolerant crop thrives in regions where other staple crops struggle, providing a reliable source of carbohydrates for millions of people. In addition to its nutritional value, cassava also has industrial applications. It is used in the production of starch, flour, animal feed, and biofuel.

Conservation Efforts

While some Manihot species are widely cultivated, others face threats due to habitat loss and the impact of climate change. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserve the genetic diversity of this important genus. Researchers are working to identify and conserve wild relatives of cassava, which may hold valuable traits for improving crop yields and resilience.

Looking Ahead

The Manihot genus holds immense potential for future research and development. Scientists are exploring ways to enhance the nutritional content of cassava, develop new varieties with improved disease resistance, and utilize the plant’s unique properties for various industrial applications. As we continue to learn more about this fascinating genus, we can unlock its full potential to contribute to a more sustainable and food-secure future.

I hope this exploration of the Manihot genus has been informative and engaging. As we’ve seen, this diverse group of plants plays a vital role in our world, from providing sustenance to millions to offering potential solutions for various industrial challenges. I encourage you to delve deeper into the world of botany and discover the wonders that await.