papaya

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Papaw
• Pawpaw
• Pape

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vasconcellea peltata
• Papaya citriformis
• Papaya peltata
• Papaya posopora
• Papaya rochefortii
• Carica papaya f. mamaya
• Carica papaya f. portoricensis
• Papaya pyriformis
• Carica cubensis
• Carica hermaphrodita
• Carica jamaicensis
• Carica jimenezii
• Carica mamaya
• Carica peltata
• Carica pyriformis
• Carica rochefortii
• Carica sativa
• Carica portoricensis
• Carica posopora
• Papaya carica
• Papaya edulis
• Papaya vulgaris
• Papaya sativa
• Carica citriformis
• Papaya cubensis
• Carica papaya var. bady
• Carica papaya f. correae
• Carica papaya f. ernstii
• Carica papaya var. jimenezii
• Carica pinnatifida

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Brassicaleales and the family Caricaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Carica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions. In Macaronesia, it can be found growing in Cape Verde. Its presence extends into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin. Additionally, the species inhabits the territories of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its range continues through the country of Guinea within the same West Tropical African zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Carica papaya is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and varied landscapes. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 2160 m AMSL. Its habitat distribution is highly diverse, encompassing anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) as well as several distinct natural biomes and vegetation types. It is commonly found within the Caatinga (strictu sensu) and the Cerrado (lato sensu), demonstrating resilience in both seasonal dry forests and savanna-like ecosystems. Furthermore, it inhabits more humid environments, including Terra Firme forests and Ombrophilous forests (also known as Pluvial forests), showcasing a wide ecological niche that spans from disturbed human-modified landscapes to stable, high-moisture tropical forest systems.

Elevational range max:

2160 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Carica papaya are characterized by a specific chromosomal arrangement and varying levels of polyploidy within its populations. The species typically exhibits a chromosome number of 18 in its diploid state, though polyploid variations such as 36 are also observed. In terms of its genomic structure, the standard ploidy level is 2, reflecting its fundamental diploid nature which serves as the basis for much of its hereditary diversity and breeding potential.

Chromosome number :

18, 36

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Carica papaya is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it develops significant woody or semi-woody structures that elevate its foliage above the ground level, while it also exhibits characteristics consistent with a nanophanerophyte due to its specific growth habits and stature. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains largely consistent and functional rather than shedding all leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Carica papaya is characterized by a tree growth form that is distinctly woody in nature. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, functioning instead as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is self-supporting, requiring no external structures such as lianas or vines for physical stability. In terms of stature, it reaches significant heights, with a minimum height of 6 m, a mean height of 7.7 m, and a maximum potential height of up to 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

7.7 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Carica papaya is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant exhibits a highly consistent stem specific density (SSD), with both its minimum, mean, and maximum values recorded at 110 mg/cm³. Its leaf morphology and biomass distribution are defined by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 173.6 cm²/g, while the leaf dry matter content (LDMC) also shows no variance, maintaining a steady value of 242.8 mg/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. The leaves vary in width, ranging from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 60 cm. Furthermore, the species does not exhibit succulence and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, indicating a reliance on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic fixation.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

242.8 mg/g

Leaf width max:

60 cm

Leaf width min:

15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

173.6 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

110 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Carica papaya is characterized by a complex biological process involving specific pollination and dispersal mechanisms. The plant features white flowers that utilize a pollination syndrome primarily involving bees. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating external agents for successful reproduction. Once pollinated, the plant develops fleshy fruits that vary significantly in size, with a mean fruit length of 20 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 50 cm, and a maximum width of 20 cm. These fruits serve as the vehicle for seed dispersal, which follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals for distribution. The seeds contained within these fleshy fruits exhibit specific morphological traits: they have a mean length of 3.8 mm (ranging from a minimum of 3.8 mm to a maximum of 5 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.039657857 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.011 g to a maximum of 0.05 g. Furthermore, the seeds maintain a consistent volume, with both the minimum and mean seed volume recorded at 85 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

50 cm

Fruit length mean:

20 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

20 cm

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Seed length max:

5 mm

Seed length mean:

3.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.05 g

Seed mass mean:

0.039657857 g

Seed mass min:

0.011 g

Seed volume max:

85 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Carica papaya has 4 reported plant parts identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, fruit, root.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
2. PloS one
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Science progress
5. Molecular pharmaceutics

Seed

1. Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation
2. Heliyon
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Fruit

1. Drug research
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
4. Chemistry Central journal
5. Nutritional neuroscience

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Nutrients

Chemicals

Carica papaya has 285 reported phytochemicals identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Carpaine, Saponins, PAPAIN.

Flavonoids

1. Drug research
2. Scientific reports
3. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
4. Molecular pharmaceutics
5. Chemistry Central journal

Tannins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular pharmaceutics
3. Bioscience reports
4. Poultry science
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Carpaine

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Scientific reports
2. Molecular pharmaceutics
3. Poultry science
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

PAPAIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Biological chemistry Hoppe-Seyler
4. Nanotechnology, science and applications

Phenols

1. Scientific reports
2. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology
3. Nutritional neuroscience
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

caffeic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
3. Heliyon

methanol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Parasitology research

CAMPESTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Folia medica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. Heliyon

Activities

Carica papaya has 632 reported activities identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, Antimalarial, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets
3. Malaria journal
4. PloS one
5. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Omics : a journal of integrative biology
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug targets
3. Chemistry Central journal
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Antimalarial

1. Scientifica
2. Heliyon
3. Toxics
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of vector borne diseases

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Antifertility

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
3. Journal of midwifery & women's health

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Abortifacient

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
2. Journal of midwifery & women's health

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Carica papaya has 75 reported medicinal uses identified across 39 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, breast cancer, cancer, dengue, dengue fever.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations