Papaya (Carica papaya)

Kates or papaya (Carica papaya) is a species of plant in the Caricaceae, a small tree that is not woody and rarely branched, 2-10 meters tall with leaves arranged in a spiral and limited to the top of the stem, very many cultivars, one of the important commercial crops in the agricultural industry for fruit and leaves.

C. papaya has a height depending on the cultivar and a conspicuous scar where the leaves and fruit grow. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, seven lobes very deep and green. The stalk is very long, tubular and has a large cavity inside. All parts of the plant contain latex.

Flowers consist of five parts and are very dimorphic. Male flowers have stamens attached to the petals. The female flower has a superior ovary and five wrinkled petals that are loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night and pollinated by wind or insects.

The fruit has a large shape and size depending on the variety, round or cylindrical, 15-45 cm long and 10-30 cm in diameter. Ripe fruit has a soft texture, the skin is yellow to orange and along the walls of the large central cavity are attached numerous black seeds.

Papaya grows as male, female and hermaphrodite. Males only produce pollen and never bear fruit. Females produce small fruit and are not edible unless pollinated. Hermaphrodites can self-pollinate because flowers contain male stamens and female ovaries.

Kates in cultivation grows fast to bear fruit and prefers sandy, well-drained soil. The fruit has a soft outer skin, peels easily and is yellow or red in color. The flesh is red or orange or yellow and has a sweet taste.

The green, unripe fruit can be eaten cooked or preserved or salted. Almost ripe papaya can also be eaten fresh as a salad. The ripe fruit is eaten immediately after removing the skin. Young leaves and flowers are cooked as vegetables and ingredients in traditional medicine.

The black seeds are edible and have a sharp, nutty taste. The sap is used to tenderize meat and other proteins. The leaves are used as a malaria treatment, abortifacient, laxative and relieve asthma.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Brassicales
Family: Caricaceae
Genus: Carica
Species: Carica papaya

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