Vasconcellea pubescens (Mountain Papaya)

Native from Panama to Venezuela and Bolivia, this small tree belongs to the papaya family. Its thick stem bears large, palmately lobed leaves with hairy undersides and leaf stalks. Plants may bear male flowers, female flowers, or both types on the same individual. The ribbed fruits ripen yellow and contain numerous seeds. Their edible flesh is used for juices and cooked sweets. In Colombia, it grows in Andean forests, shrublands and cultivated settings between about 3,600 and 11,800 feet. It is also cultivated in Java, Indonesia. Photographed in the eastern Andes mountain range of Colombia.