Oak-leaved papaya
Copyright Egon Krogsgaard
a { text-decoration: none; color: #464feb; } tr th, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6; } tr th { background-color: #f5f5f5; } Oak‑leaved papaya is a fast‑growing tree that can reach 4–6 meters in height. The species is dioecious, meaning that some trees produce only male flowers, while others produce only female flowers. If you want fruit, you therefore need trees of both sexes.
The female trees produce small, 3–5 cm long fruits that resemble miniature versions of true papayas. The fruits are edible but slightly bitter.
There are both a female and a male plant in the Greenhouses. You can see a large male plant in the northwestern corner of the Mountain Forest House. It was planted out in 2010 and was only a few centimeters in diameter at the time. Since it is a male plant, it does not produce any fruit.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: The Mountain Forest House
- Danish name: Egebladet papaya
- Latin name: Vasconcellea quercifolia
- Family: Papaya family / Caricaceae
- Natural habitat: Southern part of the Andes