The papaya
is a small tropical tree with a straight stem marked by scars where leaves
have fallen directly from it. Papayas do not have branches.
The papaya fruit is pear-shaped with a bright golden-yellow skin. The flesh
of the fruit is a brighter orange-yellow, juicy and silky smooth, with a
sweet and sour flavor. The shiny gray or black seeds in the interior of the
fruit have a peppery taste and are edible, although they are usually
discarded.
The papaya is an extraordinarily useful plant. In the tropics around the
world papaya is the breakfast fruit, served either green or ripe. The juice
is a popular beverage, and the leaves and young stems are steamed and served
as a vegetable. The fruit yields an enzyme, papain, best known as a
digestive aid but most commonly used to "clear" freshly brewed beer. The
latex is used as a freckle remover, and the seed has antibacterial action
against Bacillus cereus, Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella flexneri. The leaves have been used as a
substitute for soap, and for dressing wounds. |
