Cassava (yuca) vs. Yucca

Cassava and yucca are types of perennial plants. Cassava is also known as "yuca", which is why these two genetically unrelated plants are often mixed. Cassava originates from Central and South America and it belongs to the spurge family. It is widely cultivated in Latin America, Caribbean, Africa and Asia today. Genus Yucca is much more diverse. It contains 40 to 50 species of shrubs and trees that grow natively in dry, arid parts of North, Central and South America and Caribbean. Yucca is member of agave family. Both cassava and yucca thrive in warm climates, in areas that provide plenty of sun. Aside from that, these two plants have little in common. They can be easily distinguished via:

Morphology of the Mature Plant

Cassava is bushy plant with erect stem that can reach 10 to 20 feet in height. It has large compound leaves made of 7 dark green leaflets with reddish veins and creamy markings that can be seen during the growing season. Yucca has tree-like morphology. Its stem can reach 4 to 40 feet in height. Yucca can be easily recognized by its bluish-green, sword-shaped, spiky leaves and white, bell-shaped flowers arranged in large terminal panicles.

Pollination of Flowers

Cassava produces greenish-white flowers that attract various types of insects. Yucca produces white flowers that can be successfully pollinated only by yucca moths. Without yucca moths, yucca cannot produce fruit and propagate via seed in the wild.

Part of Human Diet

Cassava is best known by its 8 to 30 inches long root, known as "yuca root". Root has brown, bark-like skin on the surface and white, fleshy interior, which is used in human diet. Cassava root can be consumed either as root vegetable, as a substitute for potato or in the form of flour and tapioca pearls. It is also used for the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. Root needs to be thermally processed before consumption, because it contains toxic substances (exposure to high temperatures eliminates all toxins from the root). Cassava root is good source of vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and manganese. Leaves of cassava can be also used in human diet. Fruit, seed, flowers and flowering stems of certain yucca species are edible, but they are rarely consumed.

Other Applications

Cassava is cultivated as a source of ethanol which is used as biofuel. Cassava root and hay are important source of food for the livestock. Yucca is cultivated mostly in ornamental purposes. Some tribes of native Americans have used root of soaptree yucca as natural shampoo in the past. Fibrous leaves of yucca, equipped with sharp spines were used as meat hangers in smoke houses in the rural Appalachian areas.