Additional notes (click to expand)

Horticulture

An evergreen pachycaul shrub (plants with a disproportionately thick trunk for their height, and few branches), growing up to 10m tall. Grow in Andean regions at an altitude of 2000-3000m. The fruit is yellow once ripe, 6-15cm long and 3-8cm broad, with five ribs from the base to the top.
Crops for the future https://web.archive.org/web/20130518052628/http://www.cropsforthefuture.org/crop-of-the-week-archive/mountain-papaya-vasconcellea-pubescens-caricaceae/

Medicinal

A potential source of papain (a proteolytic enzyme), which has pharmaceutical and research uses.
U.S National Plant Germplasm System https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=310753

Nomenclature

The name honours the Jesuit priest Simão de Vasconcellos, who was one of the first to write a history of Brazil. See https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/caricaceae
https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/caricaceae

Other use

Fruit is grown on a small scale, and must be cooked before eating.
U.S National Plant Germplasm System https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=310753

Geographical distribution

  • Southern America

Vasconcellea pubescens A. DC.

Family: CARICACEAE
Genus: Vasconcellea
Species: pubescens A. DC.
Common names: Mountain papaya
Distribution summary: South America
Conservation status (IUCN Red List): Not Evaluated
Habit: Tree
Habitat: Tropical mountainous areas
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants in pots (POT)
Reason for growing: Medicinal, other use


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