Scientific name: Carica papaya L.
Family: Acanthaceae
Distribution and Habitat: It originated in the Tropical America and is cultivated in Madeira.
Description: Herbaceous plant with a unique smooth stem, generally with no lateral branches and may reach a height of 10 m. The leaves are big, lobulated and palm-shaped. The fruit, the papaya, is a very aromatic berry with a large central cavity where you may find several dark grey seeds. The epidermis is thin, soft, and green when it is not yet ripe and yellow or orange when it is. When ripe, the pulp may become white yellow, orange, salmon or red.
Observations: Blooming season is from May to August.