Carica papaya - Flora of Qatar

Carica bourgeaui, Carica hermaphrodita, Carica jamaicensis, Carica jimenezii, Carica mamaya, Carica peltata, Carica pinnatifida, Carica portoricensis, Papaya bourgeaui, Papaya carica, Papaya communis, Papaya cucumerina, Papaya papaya, Papaya peltata, Papaya sativa, Papaya vulgaris, Vasconcellea peltata

Common names

Extract from Wikipedia article

The papaya (/pəˈpaɪə/ or US /pəˈpɑːjə/) (from Carib via Spanish), papaw, (/pəˈpɔː/) or pawpaw (/ˈpɔːˌpɔː/ is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, and is one of the 22 accepted species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae. It is native to the tropics of the Americas, perhaps from southern Mexico and neighbouring Central America. It was first cultivated in Mexico several centuries before the emergence of the Mesoamerican classical civilizations.[+]

The papaya is a large, tree-like plant, with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 m (16 to 33 ft) tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. The leaves are large, 50–70 cm (20–28 in) in diameter, deeply palmately lobed, with seven lobes. Unusually for such large plants, the trees are dioecious. The tree is usually unbranched, unless lopped. The flowers are similar in shape to the flowers of the Plumeria, but are much smaller and wax-like. They appear on the axils of the leaves, maturing into large fruit - 15–45 cm (5.9–17.7 in) long and 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) in diameter. The fruit is ripe when it feels soft (as soft as a ripe avocado or a bit softer) and its skin has attained an amber to orange hue.

Carica papaya was the first transgenic fruit tree to have its genome deciphered.

AI-generated Description

Carica papaya, commonly known as papaya, is a tropical plant native to Central and South America. In Qatar, it is often cultivated in greenhouses or indoors due to the country's arid climate. Research has shown that papaya can be grown successfully in Qatar using hydroponics and other soilless cultivation methods. Studies have also explored the potential of papaya as a source of nutrition and income for local farmers in Qatar, highlighting its suitability for small-scale farming and its potential to contribute to the country's food security.

AI-generated summary of observations

Carica papaya plants were observed growing in the Al Luqta area of Doha, Qatar, with sightings on Al Abeer Street and near Sahat Al Luqta Street on April 16, 2015, and again on April 19, 2016. The plants were found to have flowers and fruits, indicating a thriving growth. Additionally, observations of the fruit itself were made from samples purchased at Carrefour Supermarket on July 3, 2015. These observations revealed the fruit's interior, including masses of seeds, cross-sections, and close-ups of the seeds. The seeds were found to cover the interior of the fruit, with multiple images showcasing their presence in various cuts and views of the fruit. Overall, the observations suggest that Carica papaya can grow and thrive in Qatar's environment.

Links

Outside links

How the web page was created

Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.

Carica papaya L.

Synonyms