Manihot

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Manihot (family Euphorbiaceae) A genus of shrubs and herbs which produce white latex. The leaves are deeply palmately lobed. M. esculenta (M. utilissima) provides cassava (manioc, mandioca, tapioca, gari) from swollen tubers which, in many varieties, have a high cyanide content. M. glaziovii is a small tree whose latex provides ceará rubber. There are 98 species, occurring from the south-west of N. America to tropical America.