SafePlants

Papaya: The "Fruit of the Angels"

The papaya, a fruit celebrated for its sweet, musky flavor and soft, butter-like texture, has historically been referred to as the "fruit of the angels." It's now a readily available fruit in many parts of the world.

Considerations for Pets

• Enclosing hundreds of black, small seeds that might be attractive to some pets.

Common Names

• Papaya (from Carib via Spanish)
• Papaw
• Pawpaw

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carica papaya
• Belongs to a family with 22 accepted species.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to southern Mexico and neighboring Central America.
• Now found in every tropical and subtropical country.

Morphological Characteristics

• Bright, pear-shaped, exotic fruit.
• Encloses hundreds of black seeds.
• When ripe, its skin is a deep yellow or orange.
• Can be pear-shaped, cylindrical, or nearly round.

Uses and Benefits

• Rich in Vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin C, and other phyto-nutrients.
• Known for anti-oxidant and disease-preventing properties.
• Used in various cuisines, including Sri-Lankan, South Indian, and Thai dishes.

Ecological Role

• Major commercial crop throughout the tropical and subtropical world.
• Widely exported to areas where production is not possible.

Quirky Facts

• Christopher Columbus also referred to papayas as the fruit of the angels.
• Annual papaya consumption in Hawaii is 15 lbs (6.8 kg) per capita.
• Genetically modified papayas have been developed that are resistant against Papaya Ringspot Virus, although these are not approved in the EU.