Papaya
ExplorePlants
Papaya
Carica papaya
Papayas are sweet, juicy fruits that grow on tall trees. They have a bright orange color inside and are yummy to eat! Papayas can help keep your tummy happy and healthy.
Habitat: Tropical areas
Appearance
The Papaya has a tall, slender, unbranched trunk topped with a crown of large, deeply lobed, palm-like leaves. Its oval fruits hang directly from the trunk, ripening from green to yellow-orange, sometimes with a red blush.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderBrassicalesFamilyCaricaceaeGenusCarica
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient Mayans revered papaya as a 'tree of life' for its healing properties.
Papaya seeds are edible and taste like a peppery radish!
The Papaya is not actually a tree, but a giant herb with a soft, hollow stem!
Unripe papaya is used as a vegetable in savory dishes, not just as a sweet fruit.
Special abilities
Ability
Healing Helper
Papaya has an enzyme called papain that helps it digest insects and also break down proteins.
Ability
Fruit Factory
Papaya plants can produce fruit continuously for many years once they start, providing a steady food source.
Ability
Rapid Grower
Papayas grow incredibly fast, quickly reaching fruit-bearing size to outcompete other plants.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-1000 cm
- Spread
- 200-300 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Year-round
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
symbiotic with
Papaya
Carica papaya
Microbes in the soil support its growth.
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Bees visit the flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
eaten by
Large flying fox
Pteropus vampyrus
Fruit bats eat ripe papaya fruits and disperse seeds.
eats
Oriental fruit fly
Bactrocera dorsalis
Larvae infest and consume the fruit pulp.
Traits
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Fruit Tree
A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Rainforest
This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover.
Also known as
Pawpaw
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always wash fruits before eating them to keep them clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Papaya?
300-1000 cm
How wide does Papaya spread?
200-300 cm
How big are the flowers on Papaya?
2-3 cm
When does Papaya bloom?
Year-round
Is Papaya edible?
Yes
Is Papaya toxic?
None
What is Papaya's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Papaya pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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