Caricaceae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caricaceae |
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| Carica papaya | |
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Caricaceae
Dumort., nom. cons.
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The Caricaceae are a family of flowering plants. These plants are mostly found in warm, sunny parts of the world. You can find them in Central America, South America, and Africa.
Most plants in this family are small trees or shrubs. They usually grow to be about 5 to 10 meters tall. Many of them also grow yummy fruit that people can eat!
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About Caricaceae Plants
Caricaceae plants are special because they are often "evergreen." This means they keep their leaves all year round. They don't lose them in the fall like some other trees. They are also known for having thick stems.
Where Do Caricaceae Grow?
These plants love warm weather. They grow best in tropical areas. This includes places like the jungles of South America. You can also find them in parts of Central America and Africa. They need a lot of sunshine and warmth to thrive.
Types of Caricaceae Plants
The Caricaceae family has six main groups, called genera (plural of genus). In total, there are about 34 to 35 different kinds of species in this family. Here are some of the main groups:
- Carica – This group has only one species, which is the famous Carica papaya. This is the plant that gives us delicious papayas! It comes from the Americas.
- Cylicomorpha – This group has two species. You can find these plants in Africa.
- Horovitzia – This group has one species. It grows in Mexico.
- Jacaratia – This group has eight species. They are found in the Americas.
- Jarilla – This group has three species. They also grow in the Americas.
- Vasconcellea – This is the largest group, with about 20 to 21 species. All of these are found in the Americas.
Images for kids
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A ripe papaya fruit, from the Carica papaya plant.
See also
In Spanish: Caricáceas para niños
