Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculium

L.; (Dunal) Heiser & Pickersgill

Bird pepper

Solanaceae Edible: Fruit, Spice 25,233 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Capsicum annuum is a flowering plant in the family Solanaceae (nightshades), native to the northern regions of South America and to southwestern North America. The plant produces berries of many colors including red, green, and yellow, often with pungent taste. It is one of the oldest cultivated crops, with domestication dating back to around 6,000 years ago in regions of Mexico. The genus Capsicum has over 30 species but Capsicum annuum is the primary species in its genus, as it has been widely cultivated for human consumption for a substantial amount of time and has spread across the world. This species has many uses in culinary, medicine, self-defense, and ornamental applications.

Description

A herb that keep growing from year to year. The fruit are small and round or bullet shaped. They are red when ripe.

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Edible Uses

There are multiple ways this species can be used in food, this includes fresh, dried, pickled, and powdered. It is widely used in traditional Mexican cuisine to create dishes such as Oaxacan black mole. It is added to many dishes worldwide for spice and flavor and is used as a colorant for aesthetics. According to a study looking at Capsicum annuum as a contender for alleviating micronutrient deficiencies, along with their flavor and coloring properties, they are also very rich in micronutrients, including vitamins A, B, B3, and C. The species is a source of popular sweet peppers and hot chilis, with numerous varieties cultivated all around the world, and is the source of popular spices such as cayenne, chili, pimentón and paprika powders, as well as pimiento (pimento). Capsinoid chemicals provide the distinctive tastes in C. annuum variants. In particular, capsaicin creates a burning sensation ("hotness"), which in extreme cases can last for several hours after ingestion. A measurement called the Scoville scale has been created to describe the hotness of peppers and other foods.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for flavouring - raw or cooked.

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Medicinal Uses

Capsicum annuum has been widely cultivated and modified through breeding for certain traits, which allows them to be used in multiple applications. These include in food, traditional medicine, cosmetics, and even self defense (pepper spray). In old civilizations such as the Mayan and Aztec, capsicum species including C. annuum were used to treat many illnesses including asthma, toothaches, coughs, and sores. Today these practices still exist in developing countries, using them for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. There have also been studies linking the consumption of capsaicinoids and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Distribution

A tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Peru, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, USA, Venezuela,

Other Information

It is a cultivated plant.

Notes

There are 10 Capsicum species.

Synonyms

Capsicum hispidum var. glabriusculum DunalCapsicum frutescens var. queenslandicum Domin.

Also Known As

Anmak, Bird's-eye pepper, Chile piquin, Chiltepin, Chiltepine, Chile de monte, Phiriphiri

References (16)

Arellanes, Y., et al, 2013, Influence of traditional markets on plant management in the Tehuacan Valley. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 9:38 (As Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)
Baileya 19:156. 1975
Camou-Guerrero, A., et al, 2008, Knowledge and use Value of Plant Species in a Raramuri Community: A Gender Perspective for Conservation. Human Ecology, 36:259-272
Coe, F. G., and Anderson, G. J., 1996, Ethnobotany of the Garifuna of Eastern Nicaragua. Economic Botany 50(1) pp 71-107
Coe, F. G. and Anderson, G. J., 1999, Ethnobotany of the Sumu (Ulwa) of Southeastern Nicaragua and Comparisons with Miskitu Plant Lore. Economic Botany Vol. 53. No. 4. pp. 363-386

Show all 16 references

Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 517
Estrada-Castillon, E., et al, 2014, Ethnobotany in Rayones, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 10:62
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 231 (As Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)
Ibarra-Manriquez, G., et al, 1997, Useful Plants of the Los Tuxtlas Rain Forest (Veracruz, Mexico): Considerations of their Market Potential. Economic Botany, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 362-376
Kraft, K. H., et al, 2012, A new collection of wild populations of Capsicum in Mexico and the southern United States. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Published on line 20 April, 2012
Magwede, K., van Wyk, B.-E., & van Wyk, A. E., 2019, An inventory of Vhavenḓa useful plants. South African Journal of Botany 122 (2019) 57–89
Mapes, C. & Basurto, F., 2016, Biodiversity and Edible Plants of Mexico. Chapter 5 in R. Lira, et al. (eds.), Ethnobotany of Mexico, Ethnobiology, Springer. p 106
Samuels, J., 2015, Biodiversity of Food Species of the Solonaceae Family: A Preliminary Taxonomic Inventory of Subfamily Solanoideae. Resources 2015, 4. 277-322
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 81
sensu D'Arcy & Eshbaugh, Phytologia 25:350. 1973 (As Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 141