# hardy tapioca (*Manihot grahamii*)

Hardy tapioca is a special plant that can grow in tough places. It has big, green leaves and can produce yummy roots that people can eat. This plant is strong and can survive in different weather!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![hardy tapioca](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/462794989/medium.jpeg)

Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Hugo Hulsberg, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/462794989)

## Appearance

The hardy tapioca is a tall, woody shrub with distinct large, hand-shaped leaves, often dark green above and lighter below. Its small, greenish-yellow flowers appear in clusters, sometimes with a reddish tint, contrasting with its robust stems.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Malpighiales
- **Family:** Euphorbiaceae
- **Genus:** Manihot

## Interesting facts

- Careful! Parts of this plant must be cooked properly before eating!
- Its amazing roots store so much food, they're like underground energy banks!
- The unique shape of its leaves helps it catch sunlight like tiny solar panels!
- This plant can grow in places so dry, many other plants just can't survive!

## Special abilities

- **Deep Drinker:** Hardy tapioca can send its robust roots deep underground to find water and nutrients in dry soils.
- **Energy Hoarder:** Hardy tapioca stores large amounts of starchy food in its roots, helping it survive long periods without much rain.
- **Natural Shield:** Hardy tapioca produces special chemicals that help protect its leaves from hungry insects and animals.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-500 cm
- **Spread:** 150-400 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Moderate
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Cassava Hornworm (*Erinnyis ello*) — Larvae feed on Manihot leaves.
- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its small flowers for nectar.
- **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on the leaves and young shoots.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching or eating any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify hardy tapioca?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is hardy tapioca?

200-500 cm

### How wide does hardy tapioca spread?

150-400 cm

### How big are the flowers on hardy tapioca?

0.5-1 cm

### When does hardy tapioca bloom?

Summer to Fall

### Is hardy tapioca edible?

Yes

### Is hardy tapioca toxic?

Moderate

### What is hardy tapioca's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Hardy Tapioca: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hardy-tapioca)