Capsicum annuum

Name results from northern latitude growers treating this species as an "annual" growing plant, (even thought the plant is a perennial). It has two non-pungent (non-hot) forms; the Bell, and the Wax and the Pimento peppers, as well as the hot form; the Jalapeno and the NuMex, that are present throughout much of the world. Evidence suggests that Capsicum annuum originally appeared in northern Latin America. They are believed to have been grown domestically in the Mexico area from around 2,500 B.C. As a result of the travels of Christopher Columbus, Capsicum annuum seeds were taken from the area and planted back in the then colonies of Spain and Portugal. Pronounced 'ANN-you-um'.

Botany

Flowers solitary at each node (occasionally fasciculate). Pedicels usually declining at anthesis. Corolla milky white (occasionally purple), without diffuse spots at base of lobes; corolla lobes usually straight. Calyx of mature fruit without annular constriction at junction with pedicel (though sometimes irregularly wrinkled); veins often prolonged into short teeth. Fruit flesh usually firm (soft in certain cultivars). Seeds straw-coloured. Chromosome number 2n=24, with two pairs of acrocentric chromosomes, e.g. Hungarian Wax, commercial bell peppers.

Purple Jalapeno flower © John Taylor

Sub divisions & Synonyms

Capsicum angulosum synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum (Mill)

Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum

Capsicum annuum var. angulosum synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum (Mill)

Capsicum annuum var. aviculare the botanical variety name for wild species. (D'Arcy & Eshbaugh by Hatch et al, 1990, used for Capsicum annum var. glabriusculum)

Capsicum annuum var. annuum the botanical variety name for cultivated species

Capsicum annuum var. anomalum synonym for Turbocapsicum anomalum (Makino)

Capsicum annuum var. baccatum synonym for Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum (Kuntze)

Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme

Capsicum annuum var. conoide

Capsicum annuum var. conicum (GFW Meyer - Cone pepper)

Capsicum annuum var. cordiforme (Edwall)

Capsicum annuum var. cuneatum (Paul)

Capsicum annuum var. fasciculatum

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum known to grow in south and eastern Florida, USA. (Heiser & Pickersgill) According to the USDA ARS-GRIN database; Shrub, 1.5 m tall. Fruits upright, oval shaped, 1 cm long, green, turning glossy black, then orange when ripe. Flowers cream coloured with purple anthers, petals retroflexed, 1 per node. Also known as

Capsicum annum var. aviculare
Capsicum annum var. minimum (Heiser)
Capsicum hispidum var. glabriusculum (Dunal)

Capsicum annuum var. grossum (Sendt)

Capsicum annuum var. leucocarpum (Kuntze)

Capsicum annuum var. longum (Bailey)

Capsicum annuum var. luteum (Lam)

Capsicum annuum var. lycopersiciforme (Auquier)

Capsicum annuum var. minimum synonym for Capsicum annum var. glabriusculum

Capsicum annuum var. minus (used by Shiners for Capsicum annum var. annuum)

Capsicum annuum var. microcarpum (Cavanilles)

Capsicum annuum var. parvo-acuminatum (used by Makino for Capsicum annum var. acuminatum)

Capsicum annuum var. pyramidale (Mill)

Capsicum annuum var. violaceum (Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth)

Capsicum conicum synonym for Capsicum annum var. conicum (GFW Meyer)

Capsicum conoide

Capsicum cordiforme synonym for Capsicum annum var. cordiforme

Capsicum hispidum synonym for Capsicum annum (Dunal)

Capsicum hispidum var. glabriusculum synonym for Capsicum annum var. glabriusculum

Capsicum frutescens var. grossum synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum (Bailey)

Capsicum grossum synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum

Capsicum grossum var. cordatum synonym for Capsicum annum var. cordiforme (Fingerhall)

Capsicum indicum synonym for Capsicum annuum (Lobel)

Capsicum pomiferum synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum (Steud)

Capsicum sphaerium synonym for Capsicum annum var. grossum (Willd)

Capsicum tomatiforme synonym for Capsicum annum var. lycopersiciforme (Steud)

Capsicum umbilicatum - synonym for Capsicum annuum var. abbreviatum

Turbocapsicum anomalum - synonym for Capsicum annuum (Makino)

Capsicum annuum

Botany

Sub divisions & Synonyms

Further reading