Caricaceae
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
The Caricaceae are a family of flowering 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:
Script error: No such module "Clade".
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Template:Caricaceae Template:Angiosperm families Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control