my GAWD that is a big one!!!!!!!!!

PapayaDog

But papaya is not actually a tree, is it? (Even this one!)

@john, I know its tricky because its not really woody like a tree.
but then again id have a hard time calling that thing an herb or a shrub.

according to wiki:
"The papaya is a large tree-like plant, with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 metres (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. The leaves are large, 50�70 centimetres (20�28 in) diameter, deeply palmately lobed with 7 lobes. The tree is usually unbranched, unless lopped. "

it also mentions, that Carica Papaya, is the sole species of Carica. I found that interesting, I know there are some other similar trees, The mountain papaya, and that Babaco which folks down under keep talking about. but those are Vasconcellea pubescens.
could have fooled me, they look like regular papayas .

Another article here from a UCLA site.

"The papaya tree is one of the most distinctive plants on earth. It is generally 4 to 5 meters tall and unbranched, but old plants may be 10 meters tall. The trunk looks a little like an upside-down, gray carrot. This plant has huge leaves, up to 75 centimeters across, that are palmately and then pinnately lobed. Leaves, which have very long petioles, are clustered near the top of the tree, because the lower ones are shed, leaving large, circular scars on the bark. The stem is soft and weak because it has very flimsy wood (secondary xylem) and a hollow center."

So the one I filmed, is about as big as they get, around 10 mtrs.

Wow that is really huge. I saw some really cute video links when I was watching the Giant Papaya. ONe of iguanas eating papaya fruit and fighting off the toucans lol and another of just toucans eating papaya off the trees. I would love to see that in person!

Here is a link that might be useful: iguana and toucans eating papaya

Little stinkers!

Jeff