yuca, yucca

Yuca, also known as manioc or cassava, is a plant (genus Manihot) grown throughout the tropics for food. Tapioca flour is derived from yuca.

Yucca is a North American plant; the genus is Yucca. It is sometimes used as a food source but more often is an ornamental or is found growing in the wild, typically in desert environments. Joshua tree and yucca palm are types of yucca.

Yuca is not a synonym for yucca (exception to Merriam-Webster’s).