Definition

Noun: - A South American plant (Manihot dulcis) cultivated for its edible tuberous roots, which are used as a vegetable, and its foliage, which is used as fodder for livestock. It is a species closely related to cassava (manioc).

Usage Notes

• This term is a scientific botanical name. In everyday language, this plant is more commonly referred to by names like "sweet cassava," "sweet manioc," or "Brazilian arrowroot."
• It is used specifically to identify this particular species within the genus . The name distinguishes it from the more common bitter cassava ().

Examples

• The farmer cultivated Manihot dulcis for its sweet, edible roots.
• Unlike the bitter variety, Manihot dulcis can often be consumed with less extensive processing.
• The herbage of Manihot dulcis provides valuable feed for cattle.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical and agricultural texts, Manihot dulcis is used with precise taxonomic meaning to discuss cultivation, genetics, or nutritional content.
• The specific epithet "" is Latin for "sweet," directly describing the characteristic of its roots.

Variants and Related Words

• Sweet cassava (n): The common name for .
• Sweet manioc (n): Another common name for this plant.
• Manihot esculenta (n): The scientific name for bitter cassava or yuca, a closely related but distinct species.
• Cassava (n): A general term for plants in the genus , especially .

Synonyms

• Sweet cassava
• Sweet manioc
• Brazilian arrowroot (in some contexts)

Related Terms (Not direct synonyms)

• Tapioca: A starch extracted from cassava roots, typically from .
• Fodder: Bulk feed for livestock, such as the leaves and stems of .

Noun

1. South American plant with roots used as a vegetable and herbage used for stock feed