Tropical Plant "Oak leafed papaya"
Vasconcella quercifolia

Characteristics - The oak leafed papaya is a fruit bearer not under cultivation and rarely found in its natural habitat, the semi-deciduous high altitude forest and the Atlantic Forest in the states of Goias, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and from Sao Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul. It is a dimorphic, lactiferous tree with a solid, but not woody trunk marked by leaf scars, 4-8 m tall. Leaves are membranous and glabrous on both surfaces, with a lighter green color underneath, 8-35 cm long. Inflorescences have male flowers on axilary stems; female flowers are solitary or in sparse racemes. Flowers form from October to January. Fruits are berry-type with freshy pulp that has a slightly sweet, pleasant flavor. They ripen at the end of the summer.

Uses - The fruits are consumed only in their natural state and the branches are used to prepare sweets, similar to the jaracatia.

Propagation - Easily propagated by seeds or branch cuttings.