Male papaya bears 6 fruits in Quang Nam, many people say the tree is mutated, hermaphrodite

đu đủ đực - Ảnh 1. — Mrs. Them said that she lived to be 60 years old and this was the first time she saw a male papaya tree bear fruit - Photo: NGUYEN THEM

In the past few days, Facebook has been buzzing about a male papaya tree in Dien Phong commune, Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province that produces a lot of fruit.

According to a clip posted by an account named Them Nguyen, the male papaya tree produces a lot of flowers and fruits.

Around the trunk grow long branches (called flower stalks) with flowers, each branch has a fruit at the end.

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Ms. Nguyen Thi Them (60 years old, living in Ha An village, Dien Phong commune), the owner of the above Facebook account, said that it was a male papaya tree in her garden, about 5m tall, with a wide canopy.

This tree has been planted by Mrs. Them's family for 3 years. In recent years, the tree has only produced flowers but no fruit. She often picks the leaves, dries them, and boils them to drink.

However, I don't know why the tree suddenly produced 6 fruits, some of which are bigger than an adult's fist and long.

đu đủ đực - Ảnh 2. — Many people said it was the first time they saw a male papaya tree bear fruit - Photo: NGUYEN THEM

"I'm over 60 years old and have just seen a male papaya tree bear fruit. I thought it was strange so I recorded a clip and posted it on Facebook for fun. Some friends found it strange and came to my house to see," said Ms. Them.

Many people think that this is the first time seeing a male papaya tree bearing fruit, and such a large one, is rare, because up to now, male papaya trees only produce flowers. Some people also say that this is a mutant, hermaphrodite tree.

Đu đủ đực ra 6 trái ở Quảng Nam, nhiều người nói cây đột biến, lưỡng tính - Ảnh 4. — Mrs. Them's male papaya tree is 5m tall and bears fruit for the first time - Photo: L.TRUNG

The male papaya tree has the full scientific name Carica papaya, the tree usually grows vertically with a single tip, has long leaves and long stems. Male papaya usually does not bear fruit, or if it does, it is very little, very small.

Characteristics of male papaya flowers are white, small calyx, yellow pistil and 5 petals. Male papaya flowers are rich in beta-carotene, isothiocyanates, acetic acid, phenol, antioxidants and many alkaloids and flavonoids.

Of all the parts of the papaya tree, the flower contains the most medicinal properties (male papayas do not produce fruit). Many people often soak the flowers with honey to treat coughs in children.

The flower also contains ingredients that help control blood sugar levels in diabetics. Drinking male papaya flower decoction helps increase insulin levels, thereby stabilizing blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Male papaya flowers also have antioxidant effects, preventing cholesterol.