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http://en.wikipedia.o rg/wiki/Capsicum_annuum

Capsicum annuum

Capsicum annuum Scientific classification Kingdom: (unranked): (unranked): Order: Family: Genus: Species: Plantae Eudicots Asterids Solanales Solanaceae Capsicum C. annuum Binomial name Capsicum annuum
L.

Synonyms[2] Capsicum abyssinicum A.Rich. Capsicum angulosum Mill. Capsicum axi Vell. Capsicum bauhinii Dunal

Capsicum caerulescens Besser Capsicum cerasiforme Mill. Capsicum ceratocarpum Fingerh. Capsicum cereolum Bertol. Capsicum comarim Vell. Capsicum conicum Lam. Capsicum conoide Mill. Capsicum conoides Roem. & Schult. Capsicum conoideum Mill. Capsicum cordiforme Mill. Capsicum crispum Dunal Capsicum cydoniforme Roem. & Schult. Capsicum dulce Dunal Capsicum fasciculatum Sturtev. Capsicum fastigiatum Blume Capsicum frutescens L. Capsicum globiferum G.Mey. Capsicum globosum Besser Capsicum grossum L. Capsicum indicum auct. Capsicum longum DC. Capsicum milleri Roem. & Schult. Capsicum minimum Mill. Capsicum odoratum Steud. Capsicum odoriferum Vell. Capsicum oliviforme Mill. Capsicum ovatum DC. Capsicum petenense Standl. Capsicum pomiferum Mart. ex Steud. Capsicum purpureum Vahl ex Hornem. Capsicum pyramidale Mill. Capsicum quitense Willd. ex Roem. & Schult. Capsicum silvestre Vell. Capsicum sphaerium Willd. Capsicum tetragonum Mill. Capsicum tomatiforme Fingerh. ex Steud. Capsicum torulosum Hornem. Capsicum tournefortii Besser Capsicum ustulatum Paxton

Capsicum annuum is a domesticated species of the plant genus Capsicum native to southern North America

and northern South America.[1][3] T his species is the most common and extensively cultivated of the f ive domesticated capsicums. T he species encompasses a wide variety of shapes and sizes of peppers, both mild and hot, ranging f rom bell peppers to chili peppers. In the past some woody f orms of this species have been called C. frutescens, but the f eatures that were used to distinguish those f orms appear in many populations of C. annuum and there is no consistently recognizable C. frutescens species.[4]

Characteristics[]|]]
Although the species name annuum means annual (f rom the Latin annus year), the plant is not an annual and in the absence of winter f rosts can survive several seasons and grow into a large perennial shrub.[5] T he single f lowers are an of f -white (sometimes purplish) color while the stem is densely branched and up to 60 centimetres (24 in) tall. T he f ruit is a berry and may be green, yellow or red when ripe.[6] While the species can tolerate most climates, C. annuum is especially productive in warm and dry climates.

Uses[]|]]
Culinary[]|]]
T he species is a source of popular sweet peppers and hot chilis with numerous varieties cultivated all around the world. In British English, the sweet varieties are called red or green peppers[7] and the hot varieties chillies,[8] whereas in Australian and Indian English the name capsicum is commonly used f or bell peppers exclusively and chilli is of ten used to encompass the hotter varieties. Americans call the sweet types "peppers" and the hot ones "chili peppers" or "chilies" (sometimes spelled "chiles"). Sweet peppers are very of ten used as a bulking agent in ready-made meals and take-away f ood, because they are cheap, have a strong f lavour, and are colorf ul. T he colorf ul aspect of peppers increases the visual appeal of the f ood, making it more appetizing. Foods containing peppers, especially chili peppers, of ten have a strong af tertaste due to the presence of capsinoids in peppers. Capsaicin, a chemical f ound in chili peppers, creates a burning sensation once ingested, which can last f or several hours af ter ingestion.

Medicinal[]|]]
Hot peppers are used in medicine as well as f ood in Af rica [9] and other places around the world. English botanist John Lindley described C. annuum on page 509 of his 1838 'Flora Medica' thus: It is employed in medicine, in combination with Cinchona in intermittent and lethargic af f ections, and also in atonic gout, dyspepsia accompanied by f latulence, tympanitis, paralysis etc. Its most valuable application appears however to be in cynanche maligna (acute diphtheria) and scarlatina maligna (malignent Scarlet f ever, used either as a gargle or administered internally.)

In ayurvedic medicine, C. annuum is classif ied as f ollows:[10] Gunna (properties) ruksh (dry), laghu (light) and tikshan (sharp) Rasa dhatu (taste) katu (pungent) Virya (potency) ushan (hot)

Ornamental[]|]]

Some cultivars grown specif ically f or their aesthetic value include the U.S. National Arboretum's Black Pearl[11] and the Bolivian Rainbow. Ornamental varieties tend to have unusually coloured f ruit and f oliage with colors such as black and purple being notable. All are edible, and most (like Royal Black) are hot.