FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 415 



imported from Western Africa under the name of 

 " Mocassit " are shown in the Kew Museum. 

 Distribution : Found here and there in Guinea. 



Manioc, Mandioc, Cassava, Cassada {ManiJiot 

 utilissima, Pohl.). — Herbaceous or semi-shrubby pe- 

 rennial, with very large cylindrical, tapering yellow- 

 ish roots, reaching as much as three feet long and six 

 to nine inches in diameter, and filled with a poisonous 

 milky juice. This plant is universally cultivated in 

 West Tropical Africa for its roots, known as Bitter 

 Cassava, and which are difficult to distinguish from the 

 Sweet Cassava {Maniliot Aipi, Pohl.), but it is devoid 

 of the tough, fibrous, or woody portions found in the 

 centre of that root, and does not become soft like it 

 in boiling or roasting. Cassava meal is obtained by 

 subjecting the grated root to pressure to express the 

 juice, and then drying and pounding the residual 

 cake. Of this meal Cassava bread is made. Cassava 

 starch or Tapioca meal is the meal deposited from 

 the expressed juice of the roots after having been 

 washed and dried in the air without heat The sauce 

 called Cassareep is made from the juice concentrated 

 by heat, which dissipates its poisonous properties, and 

 afterwards flavoured with aromatics. West Indian 

 " Pepper Pot " is composed of Cassareep mixed with 

 peppers and meat, — 'Medicinal Plants,' Bentley and 

 Trimen, No. 235. 



Distribution : Cultivated in Western Tropical Africa. 



