Manihot aesculifolia

Here are noteworthy features of Manihot aesculifolia:^[2]

• Stems up to 7 m (23 ft) tall produce large tubers which are brown, rough and flaky, but which inside are creamy white. All parts of the plant are hairless, and exude a milk sap when injured.
• Leaves arise singly along the stem on petioles up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long, with blades up 30 cm (12 in) in length and up to 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. Blades are very deeply lobed into 5-9 parts radiating outward from the point of attachment with the petiole.
• Inflorescences usually are much-branched panicles at the tips of stems. They are up to 45 cm (18 in) long, and bear both male and female flowers, which are interspersed.
• Male flowers bearing corolla-like tepals about 13 mm (1⁄2 in) long range in color from pure greenish yellow to various purple hues. The tepals are divided shallowly divided into 5 lobes. Ten stamens are up to 9 mm (3⁄8 in) long. Female flowers, nearly the same size, lack the stamens, but do have a plump pistil about 6 mm (1⁄4 in) long conspicuously topped with a 3-lobed stigma; these parts are missing in male flowers.
• Capsular-type fruits, arranged in long clusters, are green, slightly warty, almost spherical, and about 15 mm (5⁄8 in) across. They arise from pedicels about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) long, which are slightly curved downwards.
• Oblong seeds are about 1.5 cm (5⁄8 in) long, a bit thin and flat, with the top side bearing conspicuous horizontal stripes. There's a broad, prominent caruncle, a kind of elaiosome, attached to the seed.

Manihot aesculifolia is native to Mexico and all countries of Central America.^[3]

In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Manihot aesculifolia inhabits low- and medium-height seasonal tropical forest.^[4] On Mexico's Pacific coast, in the state of Colima, it inhabits tropical forests with deciduous leaves.^[5] In Nicaragua's Pacific side it is common in tropical deciduous forests and spiny scrub up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation.^[2]