Papaya Botanical Name: Classification, Cultivation & Benefits

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a palm-like, soft-stemmed, evergreen tree that’s native to the tropics of America, and now it is cultivated in tropical and warm, semi-tropical zones around the world. Papaya (Carica papaya) is among the 22 species falling under the genus Carica. Papayas are cultivated for fruits, which are sweet once they are ripe. It is also loaded with nutrients, especially vitamin C and antioxidants like lycopene. It is a preferred breakfast fruit in many countries.

Key Terms: Papaya, Botany, Tracheophytes, Carica Monoica, Angiospermae, Carica Spruce

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Classification of Papaya

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The characteristics of Papaya is given below:

Carica papaya

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Characteristics of Papaya

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The papaya belongs to the genus Carica, a taxon of flowering plants within the papaya family.

• The Carica papaya, is a small tree with one stem that may reach heights of 5 to 10 metres. 
• It is considered as a horticultural wonder since it takes less than 18 months for a seed to transform into a fruit-bearing tree which is 7 metres (20 feet) tall.
• The tree is typically unbranched if unlopped.
• The papaya's topmost branch is roofed with spirally arranged leaves. 
• The leaves are huge, 50–70 centimetres (cm) in diameter, and have 7 lobes that are strongly palmately lobed.
• The lower trunk is prominently scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. 
• The papaya fruit tends to be large and is about 15-45 cm long (6 to 17 inches).
• The fruit incorporates a large center cavity that is packed with shiny, grayish-black seeds.
• The fruit of the papaya is ripe when it is soft (like a ripe avocado) and its skin has attained an amber to orange hue.

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Cultivation of Papaya

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Papayas are usually grown from seed. Their development is rapid, with fruit being produced before the tip of the primary year. Papaya is native to the tropics of the dry land, and was cultivated in Mexico several centuries before the emergence of the Mesoamerican classic cultures.

Today, the papaya is cultivated in most countries with a tropical or warm semi-tropical climate like Brazil, India, Republic of South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. In Central and South America smaller papaya-farming operations still exist.

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Common Species of Papaya

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Some of the common species of Papaya are given below:

The mountain papaya (Carica candamarcencis Hook. f.) 

• It is native to Andean regions from Venezuela to Chile at altitudes between 6,000 and 10,000 ft (1,800-3,000 m). 
• The plant is stout and tall but bears a tiny low, yellow, conical, 5-angled fruit of sweet flavor. 
• It is cultivated mainly in the towns of Coquimbo and La Serena at near-sea-level. 

The babaco, or chamburo (Carica pentagona Heilborn)

• It is commonly cultivated in mountain valleys of Ecuador. 
• The plant is slender and is not more than 10 ft (3 m) high, but the 5-angled fruits reach a foot (30 cm) long. 
• Usually seedless, or with only some seeds at the most, the fruits are eaten only after cooking. 
• It is cultivated by cuttings and is grown on a small scale in Australia and New Zealand primarily for export.

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Health Benefits of Papaya

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The health benefits of Papaya are discussed as follows:

Protection Against Heart Disease

• Papayas contain high levels of fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin C, and antioxidants. Diets high in antioxidants may reduce the chance of heart disease. 
• The antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it’s more likely to form blockages that cause cardiovascular disease. 
• Additionally, papaya's high fiber content may reduce the chance of heart disease. High-fibre diets lower cholesterol levels.
• Papaya has folic acid, which is important for converting the organic compound homocysteine into less harmful amino acids. High levels of homocysteine, an organic compound primarily found in meat products, are a risk factor for heart disease. So eating papaya in the diet may lower the risk of heart disease.

Digestion and Reduced Inflammation

• The papaya fruit contains two enzymes, papain and chymopapain. Both enzymes digest proteins, helping with the digestion process and in reducing the inflammation. 
• Papain is an ingredient in some over-the-counter digestive supplements to assist with minor upset stomachs. 
• Both papain and chymopapain also help in reducing inflammation. They may help in acute pain, like from burns or bruises, and moreover helping with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and asthma.

Immune System

• Eating foods rich in vitamin C can help boost the immune system, allowing the body to repulse bacterial and viral illnesses. Papaya features a good amount of this antioxidant, making it part of an immune-healthy diet. 
• Papaya is also a good source of Vitamin A, another important vitamin for a healthy and functional immune system. 

Nutrition

• A medium-sized papaya contains more than 200% of the vitamin C you need per day, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and boost the immune system. 
• It’s also a good source of Folate, Vitamin A, Fiber, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium and Pantothenic Acid.

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Different Names of Papaya

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Papaya has various names all over the world. 

• In Australia, it’s called a pawpaw. 
• In southern Asia, it’s sometimes called a kepaya, lapaya, or tapaya. 
• Its name in French is typically “figueir des iles,” or fig of the islands. 
• Some Spanish names for papaya include “melon zapote,” “fruta bomba,” or “mamona.”

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Things to Remember

• The botanical name of Papaya is Carica papaya.
• Papayas are usually grown from seed.
• It is cultivated throughout the tropical world and into the warmest parts of the subtropics.
• It is a popular breakfast fruit in many countries and is also used in salads, pies, sherbets, juices, and confections. 
• Papaya (Carica papaya linn) is well known for its exceptional nutritional and medicinal properties throughout the world.
• Carica, the genus to which the papaya belongs, is a taxa of flowering plants in the family Caricaceae.

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