Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii

Tree cassava
File:Manihot glaziovii - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-223.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Manihot
Species:	M. carthaginensis
Subspecies:	M. c. subsp. glaziovii
Trinomial name
Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii
Synonyms
Manihot glaziovii Müll.Arg.

The tree cassava or Ceara rubber tree, Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii, also known as Manihot glaziovii, is a species of deciduous flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to eastern Brazil.

Description

File:Manihot glaziovii.jpg

Manihot carthaginensis subsp. glaziovii in Cotonou, Benin

• Leaves - palmipartite, peltate; lobes broadly ovate to obovate; green above, glaucous beneath.
• Flowers - show branched inflorescence. Unisexual flowers are greenish-white or pale yellow with reddish markings.
• Fruit - globose.

Common Names

• French - manioc de ceara, maniçoba, ceara, caouchouc de ceara
• Portuguese - manicoba
• Swahili - mpira
• Yoruba - gbaguda

Uses

The tree cassava is used a source of rubber, instead of Hevea brasiliensis throughout the world. The plant is introduced largely in the world, but now it is classified as one of the highly invasive plant of the world.

Scientists found various enzymatic and inhibitory activities of tree cassava, which have insecticidal and anti-fungal proteins extracted from the latex of the plant. These proteins are effective against insects such as cowpea weevil, and fungi like Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina.

Further reading

• History of Manihot glaziovii
• An acid phosphatase from Manihot glaziovii as an alternative to alkaline Phosphatase for molecular cloning experiments.
• Characterisation and evaluation of a novel feedstock, Manihot glaziovii, Muell. Arg, for production of bioenergy carriers: Bioethanol and biogas.