Capsicum flexuosum

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Solanaceae Edible: Fruit - spice 9 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Capsicum flexuosum is a member of the genus Capsicum, and is native to the New World, specifically the southern regions of Brazil. Unlike most other chili peppers, it is only mildly pungent and has issues with self-compatibility.

Description

A herb or shrub. It can grow 2 m tall. The leaves are oval and 5-13 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They have a waxy appearance. The flowers can be white, green or purple. The fruit are very small. They are 7 mm long and are green but turn red when ripe. The seeds are black.

Edible Uses

In Brazil, where the plants occur naturally, C. flexusoum is sometimes used as a spice. Also, since it is a wild pepper species, it has been used extensively in phylogenetic studies to better understand the relationships of peppers and different gene models. This species has also been used as a "bridge species" to cross more distantly related Capsicum species to those more related to domesticated cultivars.

Traditional Uses

It is only mildly pungent.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows between 100-500 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Brazil*, Paraguay, South America,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seeds.

Also Known As

Pimenta-brava, Pimenta-silvestre

References (7)

Brack, P., et al, 2020, Frutas nativas do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: riqueza e potencial alimentício. Native fruits of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: richness and potential as food. Rodriguésia 71: e03102018
Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition
Coradin, L. et al (Eds), 2011, Especies Nativas da Flora Brasileira de Valor Economico Atual ou Potencial. Brasilia MMA. p 220
Kinupp, V. F., 2007, Plantas alimenticias nao-convencionais da regiao metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil p 101
Wikipedia

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