Cassava (
Manihot esculenta), also called
manioc,
yuca,
balinghoy,
mogo,
mandioca,
kamoteng kahoy, and
manioc root, a woody
shrub of the
Euphorbiaceae (spurge family) native to
South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual
crop in
tropical and
subtropical regions for its edible
starchy,
tuberous root, a major source of
carbohydrates. It differs from the similarly spelled
yucca, an unrelated fruit-bearing shrub in the
Asparagaceae family. Cassava, when dried to a starchy, powdery (or pearly) extract is called
tapioca; its fermented, flaky version is named
garri.
Cassava is the third-largest source of food carbohydrates in the world. Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. It is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, capable of growing on marginal soils.
Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava.
Cassava root is a good source of carbohydrates, but a poor source of
protein. A predominantly cassava root diet can cause
protein-energy malnutrition.
Cassava is classified as sweet or bitter. Like other roots and tubers, cassava contains
antinutritional factors and toxins. It must be properly prepared before consumption. Improper preparation of cassava can leave enough residual
cyanide to cause acute cyanide intoxication and
goiters, and may even cause
ataxia or partial paralysis. Nevertheless, farmers often prefer the bitter varieties because they deter pests, animals, and thieves. The more-toxic varieties of cassava are a fall-back resource (a "food security crop") in times of famine in some places.