Papaya
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Papaya |
| Scientific name | Carica papaya |
| Taxonomic group | Caricaceae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Economic botany | Food plants; Medicinals |
| Food plants | Fruits |
| Date | 1981 |
| Location | Fiji,Oceania |
Papaya. Native to Central America, papaya trees bear fruit directly on their main stem, a characteristic known as cauliflory. In addition to eating the fruit, humans extract latex from the skin of unripe fruits. This latex contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme used in meat tenderizers, medicines, chewing gum, and cosmetics.
