MANIHOT. 
251 
Manihot. . . . Tourn. Inst. 658. pi. 438. Pluk.Alm. 241. 
pi. 205. f. 1. Mer. Surin. 4. f. 4, 5. 
The manihot is a native of South America, of 
singular importance to the inhabitants, since its 
roots, properly prepared, afford them a very whole- 
some and nourishing food. The usual height of 
the plant is about six or seven feet; and the stem, 
which is covered with a shining green or reddish 
bark, is full of soft pith. The flowers are of a red- 
dish or pale yellow colour, and spring from the 
axils of the leaves, or the bifurcations of the branches. 
The fruit is smooth, and composed of three husks, 
each containing a shining seed of a whitish gray co- 
lour, marked with little spots. 
This useful shrub is cultivated in Asia, Africa, 
and America, particularly in the West Indies, 
where it proves of essential service to the negroes. 
It appears a paradox that any plant should yield a 
wholesome nutritious aliment, and secrete a mortal 
poison at the same time ; yet this is the case with 
the manihot, though the different products are 
easily separated by a very simple process. To ac- 
complish this it is only necessary to press out the 
venomous juice contained in the roots, and after- 
wards to dry the solid part, in order to convert 
it into flour, with which the negroes make their 
bread. We are assured that these people, notwith- 
standing their simplicity, are so certain to succeed 
in extracting the poisonous juice from this plant, 
that their bread never proves injurious to any one. 
They generally form the dry raspings of the root 
