Wapai, Tsambunumi
Vasconcellea microcarpa

Family: Caricaceae

What it is like

A tree like plant. It grows 3 m tall. The trunk is 10-20 cm across. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 40 cm long. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are the size of a cherry and 2.5 cm across. They are red or orange.

There are at least 22-40 species of Carica.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They are used in salads and soups. The leaves are eaten cooked.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and seedlings transplanted.

Its other names

Local names

Airo huati jico, Chunta ruku papaya, Col de monte, Ikiam tsampu, Kenegapoka, Papailla, Pundu papaya, Sacha papaya, Taruku papaya, Tsambunumi, Wapai

Synonyms

Carica baccata Heilborn; Carica heterophylla Poepp. & Endl.; Carica microcarpa Jacq.; Carica microcarpa subsp. australis V. M. Badillo; Carica microcarpa subsp. pilifera V. M. Badillo; Papaya microcarpa (Jacq.) Poir; Vasconcellea manihot Triana & Planch.;