A tropical fruit, the papaya looks like a small cantaloupe or honeydew melon. A papaya plant is considered a tree because it grows very tall. In some places papayas are called papaws or pawpaws.

Where papayas grow

The papaya is believed to be the result of a cross between two or more plants that are native to Mexico and Central America. Papayas were introduced into India as early as 1600. From there they spread throughout the Pacific islands. Papayas are now grown in tropical and warm subtropical regions throughout the world.

Physical features

A papaya fruit is somewhat oblong, or oval-shaped. It is usually yellow or orange in color, but some varieties remain green when ripe. The inner flesh of a papaya is very juicy and ranges from a deep yellow or orange to salmon-pink in color. In the center of the fruit are several round, wrinkled black seeds that are the size of peas. Papayas reach a length of about 3 to 20 inches (7.6 to 51 centimeters). They can weigh as much as 20 to 25 pounds (9 to 11 kilograms).

Papaya plants are grown from seeds. They grow very quickly and usually produce fruit during their first year. They may live five years or more. Papaya plants have a palmlike stem, or trunk, and can reach up to 26 feet (8 meters) tall. The leaves can be as big as 2 feet (61 centimeters) across.

Uses

Papayas are a good source of Vitamins A and C. They are a popular breakfast fruit because of their sweet but tangy flavor. Papayas are also used to make salads, preserves, jellies, pies, sherbets, and juices. The seeds have a peppery taste and are sometimes used to make salad dressing. Unripe papayas are normally cooked and eaten as a vegetable, like squash. In addition, unripe papayas contain a milky liquid called papain. Papain is an enzyme that aids the digestion of protein. It is often used to make meat tenderizers and remedies for people with indigestion.