| Caricaceae | |
|---|---|
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| Carica papaya | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Caricaceae Dumort. |
| Genera | |
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See text | |
The Caricaceae are a familyofflowering plants in the order Brassicales,[1] found primarily in tropical regions of Central and South America and Africa. They are usually short-lived evergreen pachycaul shrubs or small to medium-sized trees growing to 5–10 m tall. One species, Vasconcellea horovitziana is a liana and the three species of the genus Jarilla are herbs.[2] Some species, such as the papaya, bear edible fruit and produce papain.[3]
Based on molecular analyses, this family has been proposed to have originated in Africa in the early Cenozoic era, ~66 million years ago (mya). The dispersal from Africa to Central America occurred ~35 mya, possibly via ocean currents from the Congo delta. From Central America, the family reached South America 19-27 mya.[4]
The family comprises six genera and about 34-35 species:
| Caricaceae |
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Extant Caricaceae species
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| Carica |
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| Cylicomorpha |
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| Horovitzia |
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| Jacaratia |
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| Jarilla |
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| Vasconcellea |
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| Caricaceae |
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|---|---|
 | This Brassicales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
