Talk:Cassava

Is the phrase “root tuber” appropriate?

I think it is not, and that the phrase is an oxymoron. I am surprised at the usage on the tuber page and the relatively brief discussion on the Talk:Tuber page.

I also think that “root tuber” is better than just “tuber”, and am inclined to change all occurrences of that word (as an interim measure). JS Hoyer (talk) 15:03, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

You think it is inappropriate, but wish to change to it: not an obvious combination really. Chiswick Chap (talk) 15:06, 27 August 2024 (UTC)

I'm a bit surprised that an edit has immediately been made given that this discussion has clearly not concluded, and certainly not in favour of change. I've raised the matter at Talk:Tuber so that an informed consensus can be reached. It'd be appreciated if normal WP:BRD rules could be followed, i.e. a BOLD move has been made, a REVERT has followed, and it is now time for DISCUSSION. Chiswick Chap (talk) 07:03, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

@JS Hoyer: your comment above seems inconsistent – if "root tuber" were an oxymoron, how can it be better than just "tuber"? Anyway, it's not an oxymoron; see the discussion at Talk:Tuber#Terminology. Peter coxhead (talk) 10:27, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

My position, from years of research on cassava (and, regarding sweetpotato, from discussion with a Convolvulaceae taxonomy expert group), is to prefer “root” over “tuberous root” over “root tuber” over “tuber”.

Using “starchy root” or “storage root” in the first few instances seems useful to me, per comment from @Plantdrew on the other page.

I am US-based but my impression is that there is a strong international consensus among anatomists, which the current Tuber page does not follow, possibly based on a single source (the Kew Plant Glossary)?

I made the edit to try to clarify my position and experiment — sorry for my haste!

The recent improvements to this page are great. JS Hoyer (talk) 19:08, 28 August 2024 (UTC)

Thanks. The discussion at Talk:Tuber#Terminology seems to be closing in on a general recommendation for US/UK use of "tuber"; since US botanists think mainly of stem tubers, we probably need to say something to introduce the idea of a tuberous storage root. Best we wait a bit longer to see what exactly emerges over there. Chiswick Chap (talk) 06:05, 29 August 2024 (UTC)

Right, the talk at Tuber is that its primary meaning is a swollen stem, so "tuberous root" or similar circumlocution is advisable. I'll tweak the Cassava text in that way now. Chiswick Chap (talk) 19:03, 29 August 2024 (UTC)

Folklore section

The myths mentioned as folklore are already poorly-sourced and WP:UNDUE. Special:Diff/1301771355 added a long-winded bulk of other trivia and weak sources which should be discussed among editors for whether it deserves to be re-edited and included. Zefr (talk) 16:30, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

The sources of the long addition are OK, so I suggest we trim the narrated myths. Chiswick Chap (talk) 17:29, 21 July 2025 (UTC)