Carica papaya is an evergreen, tree-like herb, 2-10 m tall, usually unbranched, although sometimes branched due to injury, containing white latex in all parts. Stem cylindrical, 10-30 cm in diameter, hollow with prominent leaf scars and spongy-fibrous tissue. 

Leaves spirally arranged, clustered near apex of trunk; petiole up to 1 m long, lamina orbicular, 25-75 cm in diameter, palmate, deeply 7-lobed, glabrous, prominently veined; lobes deeply and broadly toothed.

Flowers tiny, yellow, funnel-shaped, solitary or clustered in the leaf axils, of 3 types; female flowers 3-5 cm long, large functional pistil, no stamens, ovoid-shaped ovary; male flowers on long hanging panicles, with 10 stamens in 2 rows 

Fruits large, cylindrical, with fleshy orange pulp. 

Seeds numerous, small, black, round, covered with gelatinous aril.

• Pawpaw – Papaw
• Melon tree
• Mummy apple
• Papayer

• Mexico, Central America
• Introduced in many countries (subtropical and tropical regions)

• Alkaloid
• Flavonoid
• Saponin
• Tannin
• Steroid
• Terpenoid

• Antipyretic
• Anti-asthmatic qualities
• Anti-cancer
• Anti-inflammatory qualities
• Antibacterial qualities
• Anticoagulant qualities
• Antifungal qualities
• Antihistamine qualities
• Antioxidant qualities
• Antiseptic qualities
• Antispasmodic qualities
• Digestive qualities
• Diuretic qualities
• Expectorant qualities
• Hypoglycemic qualities
• Hypotensive qualities
• Laxatives qualities