Carica or Dieng papaya or mountain papaya or mountain pawpaw or Carica pubescens or Carica candamarcensis or Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis ( Vasconcellea pubescens ) is a species of plant in the Caricaceae, a small tree, not woody, 1-10 meters high and with many branches. V. pubescens has palmate leaves with 5-7 lobes, thick pubescence on the underside of the leaf, 35 cm wide, peduncle 33 cm long. Male flowers have stalks up to 15 cm long, female flowers are larger with short, hard stalks. The fruit is arranged in a spiral along the stem and one tree can produce 50-60 fruits per year. Fruit is 6-15 cm long, 3-8 cm wide, five corners extending from base to top, green or yellow to orange. The fruit has a sour taste but is fragrant and around the cavity the seeds appear which are encased in a white and watery sarcotesta. The pulp can be eaten raw and is usually cooked as a vegetable. This species grows at an elevation of 1500-3000 meters, temperature 10-28C, soil with good drainage,...
