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Papaya (long-involves sex)

in re: Papaya
Many large pumpkin-sized (8 pounds or 3-1/2 Kilograms) papayas in Latin
America 30-45 species but most likely if you purchased at US supermarket
you have a SOLO Papaya (Carica papaya "mayima"). It weighs about 1 to
1-1/2 Lbs. (1/2 Kg.) It is tropical and will not tolerate temps much
below 40 F. (4 C.). It is a tree. Some varieties 25 feet (about 8
meters) height, but Solo begins fruiting about 6 feet (2 meters) tall.
Starts bearing at 9 months age and continues 4-10 years hence. I like
best halved fruit for breakfast with squeezed juice of lime on it.
Complicated sex life. (1)Dioecius pistillate-pure female, (2)Dioecius
staminate-pure male, flowers on long pedicles, (3)Andromondecious-both
male and hermaphrodite flowers, (4)Polygamous-two types a)female, male,
and hermaphrodite flowers all on same plant with long peducles and
b)female, male, and hermaphrodite flowers and same palnt with two types
hemaphrodites, one five stamens and one ten stamens, (5)Staminate-male
flowers on short peduncles, (6)Hermaphrodite-three types a)hermaphrodite
flowers only on long pedicles, b)hermaphrodite flowers with many female
flowers, c)hermaphrodite flowers with a few female flowers.
More confusing yet, the forms are not fixed, during the life of a plant
it may slowly change among the above possibilities. Sex of seed in a
fruit depend upon which of above forms fertilized. Fruit size and shape
also varies according to this.
Sometimes given the common name of PawPaw, but in my part of the country
(southrn Illinois United States of America) this refers to Asimina
triloba. It is not related and is a different fruiting tree altogether.
                                   ...Taint
The Omega Line BBS
http://omegabbs.com
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