return to: checklist; keys;
family Caricaceae
Carica papaya L.; papaya
Small
tree with weak, pithy stems, monopodial or sparingly branched;
leaves alternate, simple, deeply palmately lobed, the lobes in
turn deeply lobed; dioecious; staminate flower clusters on long,
branched pedicels arising from the leaf axils; staminate flower
petals yellow, anthers orange; pistillate flowers short-pedicelled,
in axillary clusters, petals and stigmas yellow; fruit large,
green, fleshy, edible.
Additional images:
In addition to the edible fruits, papaya is listed as an important
source of pollen and/or nectar for bees (Souza
Novello 1981).
Small
tree with weak, pithy stems, monopodial or sparingly branched;
leaves alternate, simple, deeply palmately lobed, the lobes in
turn deeply lobed; dioecious; staminate flower clusters on long,
branched pedicels arising from the leaf axils; staminate flower
petals yellow, anthers orange; pistillate flowers short-pedicelled,
in axillary clusters, petals and stigmas yellow; fruit large,
green, fleshy, edible.
