Peruvian pepper
Capsicum baccatum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A spreading shrubby plant. It grows 3 m high and spreads 1.5-2 m wide. The leaves are sword shaped and 1.5-3 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. The flowers are white or yellow and 1 cm across and in the axils of leaves. The fruit are small. The fruit is 8-10 mm long by 5 mm across. They are green or red. There are several named cultivated varieties.

There are 10 Capsicum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 1600 m altitude in Argentina. It needs a temperature above 4-13°C depending on cultivar.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Angola, Argentina, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Central America, Chad, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Europe, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Japan, Leeward Is., Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, North America, Pacific, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Indies, Zambia

How it is used for food

The fruits are dried and become yellow. They are hot and spicy. They are used for seasoning.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aji, Aji amarillo, Aji mirasol, Aji puta pario, Andeanchili, Aribibi, Boopaish, Camari, Cumari, Kiimi, Locoto, Pimenta-cumari, Pimenta-cumbari, Pimento, Sakay lakilosy, Uchu, Zacu quey

Synonyms

Capsicum annuum var. baccatum (L.) Kuntze; Capsicum annuum subsp. baccatum (L.) Terpo; Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme (Mill.) Irish; Capsicum annuum var. microcarpum (Cav.) Voss; Capsicum baccatum var. umbilicatum (Vell.) Hunz. & Barboza; Capsicum cerasiflorum Link; Capsicum cerasiforme Dunal Illegit.; Capsicum chamaecerasus Nees; Capsicum ciliare Willd.; Capsicum conicum Vell.; Capsicum frutescens var. baccatum (L.) Irish; Capsicum grossum var. cerasiforme (Mill.) C. B. Clarke; Capsicum microcarpum Cav.; Capsicum microcarpum f. fruticosum Sendtn.; Capsicum microcarpum var. glabrescens Hassl.; Capsicum microcarpum var. tomentosum Chodat & Hassl.; Capsicum microphyllum Dunal; Capsicum pulchellum Salsib.; Capsicum umbilicatum Vell.;