Cultivated papaya, Carica papaya L., sometimes known as paw paw (or papaw), is a
fast-growing tree-like herbaceous plant in the family Caricaceae. In Australia, red and pinkfleshed
cultivars are often known as ‘papaya’ to distinguish them from the yellow-fleshed
fruits, known as ‘paw paw’, but both of these common names refer to the same plant
species. Irrespective of its flesh colour, C. papaya is generally known as ‘papaya’ in other
countries. In some areas, an unrelated plant, Asiminia triloba (Annonaceae), native to
north America, is also called paw paw.