Papaya
Carica papaya
Papaya plant growing in a Rift Valley garden, Kenya. March 2011.
These distinctive fruit trees are widely planted in tropical areas World-wide. Large leaves form an umbrella-like canopy over the one or few main trunks. Flowers and fruit appear directly from the trunks at the leaf axils. Papaya is native to Central America.
Male and female flowers appear on separate trees and thus only the female trees produce fruit. Orchards must include some male plants in order to achieve pollination and fruit production. Hermaphroditic types are available that can self-pollinate.