Manihot  

Trees, shrubs, rarely herbs, monoecious. Exudate present, white. Unarmed*. Glabrous throughout or indumentum present, hairs simple. Stipules free*, simple, unlobed, entire *, not spine-like*, sometimes leaf-like, without glands. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple or compound, peltate or not, lobed or unlobed, base symmetrical, margin entire or almost so, rarely toothed, glandular or not, blade not pellucid-punctate, with stipels at leaflet base or stipel-like structures at leaf base or petiole apex; with 3 – 7 strong veins from base or venation pinnate; domatia absent*. Petiole present or leaves sessile (rarely), without swellings or bends at base or apex*, with stipels or stipel-like structures at apex. Inflorescence with axis, axillary (in the upper axils) or terminal, racemose or racemose-paniculate, 1–more basal flowers female, the rest male; flowers large; bracts small or large, leaf-like or not, entire or laciniate, green. Male flowers: pedicels present, short, not articulated*; sepals 5; imbricate or not, partially fused, greenish; petals 0; disc central (intrastaminal) with lobes/glands among the stamens; stamens 10, free, in 2 rows; anther without conspicuous modification; pistillode present or absent. Female flowers: pedicels present, long, articulated or not; sepals 5; imbricate, free, greenish, falling early; petals 0; disc present, surrounding the ovary, annular, entire or lobed; ovary locules 3, ovules per locule 1; styles 3, partially fused, style entire or lobed at apex, styles or stigmas not flat*, surface smooth*; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent, more or less smooth, or with 6 longitudinal wings, greenish to brown; seed carunculate, with no other covering or membranous layer; embryo flat, not minute, cotyledons leaf-like.

An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.

About 100 spp.