Caricaceae
Caricaceae
Caricaceae (pronounced /ˌkærɪˈkeɪsiː/) is a family of flowering plants in the order Brassicales, native to the tropics of the Americas.
Etymology
The name Caricaceae is derived from the type genus Carica of this family. The word Carica itself comes from the Latin caries which means "decay", referring to the rapid decomposition of the fruit.
Description
Members of the Caricaceae family are typically small trees or shrubs. They are characterized by their simple, entire leaves and their unisexual flowers. The fruit is a large, fleshy berry that is rich in papain, a type of protease enzyme.
Genera
The Caricaceae family includes six genera:
Economic Importance
The most economically important member of this family is the papaya (Carica papaya), which is cultivated for its edible fruit. Other members of the family, such as Vasconcellea species, are also grown for their fruit or for their ornamental value.
Related Terms
- Brassicales: The order to which Caricaceae belongs.
- Berry: A type of fruit characteristic of Caricaceae.
- Papain: A protease enzyme found in the fruit of Caricaceae plants.
- Papaya: A fruit-bearing plant in the Caricaceae family.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Caricaceae
- Wikipedia's article - Caricaceae
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