Pawpaw family
Description
A family of small trees and shrubs with terminal clusters of leaves and latex in all parts, often dioecious (Caricaceae 1).
The leaves are palmately lobed or divided and spirally arranged. Female flowers in axillary cymes, regular, with 5 sepals and petals and a superior ovary. Male flowers in pendant axillary panicles, with 10 stamens inserted at the throat of the corolla. The fruit is a berry.
There are 4 genera occurring in the tropics of America and Africa.
Use
The Genus Carica provides the papaya, a tropical fruit that is widely cultivated. Unripe fruits contain a proteolitic enzyme used to tenderize meat.
Described species
Carica papaya, papaya, papaw or pawpaw