Carica papaya

Family: Caricaceae

Common name: Papaya tree

Carica papaya, commonly known as papaya, is a small, succulent, broadleaf evergreen tree that produces fruit year-round. The tree typically has a single, unbranched, non-woody trunk marked by the scars of old leaf bases. At the top of the trunk, an umbrella-like canopy of palmately lobed leaves spreads out. The large, fleshy, melon-like fruits (papayas) grow in clusters on the trunk, just below the leaf canopy. The plant is usually dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants, although some cultivars are hermaphroditic. The flowers are fragrant and trumpet-shaped, with yellowish-white petals. Male flowers appear in long racemes, while female flowers are found in small clusters or solitary. Female flowers develop into smooth-skinned green fruits that ripen to yellow-orange, with the flesh ranging from yellow to pinkish-orange. Inside, the fruit contains a central cavity filled with pea-sized black seeds, which are also edible.
Papaya fruits are enjoyed both raw and cooked, and can be baked as well. The enzyme papain, extracted from the milky sap of green papayas, is widely used as a meat tenderizer, a chewing gum additive, and a beer clarifier. It also has a wide range of medical, cosmetic, and industrial applications.