| Caricaceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Carica papaya | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Caricaceae Dumort. |
| Genera | |
See text | |
TheCaricaceae are afamily offlowering plants in the orderBrassicales,[1] found primarily intropical regions ofCentral andSouth America andAfrica. They are usually short-livedevergreenpachycaulshrubs or small to medium-sizedtrees growing to 5–10 m tall. One species,Vasconcellea horovitziana is a liana and the three species of the genusJarilla are herbs.[2] Some species, such as thepapaya, bear ediblefruit and producepapain.[3]
Based on molecular analyses, this family has been proposed to have originated inAfrica in the earlyCenozoic era, ~66 million years ago (mya). The dispersal from Africa toCentral America occurred ~35 mya, possibly via ocean currents from theCongo delta. From Central America, the family reachedSouth America 19-27 mya.[4]
The family comprises six genera and about 34-35 species:
| Caricaceae |
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-_Cardamine_flexuosa_inflorescence.jpg) | ThisBrassicales article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
