ArborNote’s Tree of the Week was chosen by our developer Hamza! He chose the Papaya Tree (Carica papaya). The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 16 to 33 ft tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is conspicuously scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. It was first domesticated in Mesoamerica, within modern-day southern Mexico and Central America. It is grown in several countries in regions with a tropical climate. In 2022, India produced 38% of the world’s supply of papayas! Fragrant, trumpet-shaped, yellowish-white flowers bloom throughout the year. The ripe fruit of the papaya is usually eaten raw, without skin or seeds. The black seeds are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. However, the unripe green fruit is usually cooked due to its latex content, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. Unlike most fruit producing trees, in tropical regions, papayas can bear fruit year-round, with peak harvests during warmer months. Multiple harvests per year are common near the equator!