Carica

/kəˈriːkə/ noun

Definition

The scientific genus name for papaya plants, commonly used by botanists and scientists.

Etymology

From New Latin botanical nomenclature, ultimately derived from an indigenous South American language word for papaya. The scientific naming follows Linnaean taxonomy conventions.

Kelly Says

The papaya plant's scientific name 'Carica' shows how Spanish explorers heard indigenous words like 'papaya,' but different regions called it different things—'carica' in some languages—and scientists had to pick one for the whole world!

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