Capsicum annuum 1433743 222866031 2008-07-01T14:21:09Z Cuaxdon 6807998 /* Food */ {{Taxobox | name = ''Capsicum annuum'' | image = Capsicum annuum.JPG | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Capsicum annuum cultivars | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | subclassis = [[Asteridae]] | ordo = [[Solanales]] | familia = [[Solanaceae]] | genus = ''[[Capsicum]]'' | species = '''''C. annuum''''' | binomial = ''Capsicum annuum'' | binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] }} '''''Capsicum annuum''''' is a domesticated species of the plant genus ''[[Capsicum]]'' native to [[Mexico]].{{Fact|date=April 2007}} ==Description== The plant is a [[herbaceous]] [[Annual plant|annual]], with a densely branched stem. The plant reaches 0.5&ndash;1.5 m (20&ndash;60 in). Single white flowers bear the fruit which is green when unripe, changing principally to red, some varieties may ripen to brown or purple. ==Cultivation== While the species can tolerate most climates, they are especially productive in warm and dry climates. Due to this climate tolerance, and the variety of flavors available, this New World plant spread across the world, possibly faster than any other crop. [[Image:RoyalEmbersFlower.JPG|thumb|200px|Typical C. annuum flower, Royal Embers.]] ==Use== ===Food=== The species is a source of popular [[sweet peppers]] and hot chili fruit, and numerous varieties are cultivated around the world. Despite being a single species, ''Capsicum annuum'' has many [[cultivar|cultivars]], with a variety of names. In [[American English]] it is commonly known as the [[chili pepper]] or [[bell pepper]]. In [[British English]], they are all called ''peppers'', whereas in [[Australian English|Australian]] and [[Indian English]] there is no commonly-used name encompassing all its forms, the name ''capsicum'' being commonly used for bell peppers exclusively. Common varieties include: *[[Aleppo pepper|Aleppo]] *[[Anaheim pepper|Anaheim]] (also called California) *[[Ancho]] (called ''poblano'' when fresh) *[[Bell pepper]] *[[Cascabel]] *[[Cayenne pepper|Cayenne]] *[[Chilaca]] (called ''pasilla'' when dried) *[[Chiltepin pepper|Chiltepin]] *[[Cubanelle]] *[[Chile de arbol|De árbol]] *[[Dundicut]] *[[Fresno]] *[[Guajillo chili|Guajillo]] *[[Hungarian wax pepper|Hungarian wax]] *[[Italian sweet pepper]] *[[Jalapeño]] (called ''[[chipotle]]'' when smoked) *[[Japanese chili pepper|Japanese]] *[[Mirasol]] *[[Macho]] *[[Mulato]] (called ''poblano'' when fresh) *[[New Mexico pepper|New Mexico]] (known more widely as 'Anaheim') *[[Pasilla]] (called ''chilaca'' when fresh) *[[Pepperoncini]] *[[Pequin pepper|Piquín]] *[[Pimento]] (also called '''cherry pepper''') *[[Poblano]] (called ''ancho'' or ''mulato'' when dried) *[[Puya chili|Puya]] *[[Serrano pepper|Serrano]] *[[Tien Tsin (Pepper)|Tien Tsin]] ===Medicine=== Hot peppers are used in medicine as well as food in Africa.<ref name="prota">Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (2004) Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen; Backhuys, Leiden; CTA, Wageningen.</ref> John Lindley (1799-1865) wrote in his 'Flora Medica' (1838) about ''Capsicum annuum'', page 509: 'It is employed in medicine, in combination with ''[[Cinchona]]'' in intermittent and lethargic affections, and also in atonic [[gout]], [[dyspepsia]] accompanied by [[flatulence]], tympanitis, paralysis etc. Its most valuable application appears however to be in ''cynanche maligna'' and ''scarlatina maligna'', used either as a gargle or administered internally.' ==See also== {{commonscat|Capsicum annuum}} *[[List of capsicum cultivars]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?8904 ''Capsicum annuum'' (USDA)] *[http://database.prota.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=QBE_QUERY&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fdatabase.prota.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=PROTAB~1&QB0=AND&QF0=Species+Code&QI0=Capsicum+annuum&RF=Webdisplay PROTAbase on ''Capsicum annuum''] *[http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/publications/vegetabletravelers/pepper.html Texas A&M University] {{fruit-stub}} [[Category:Solanaceae]] [[Category:Chili peppers]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[co:Pivaronu]] [[da:Spansk Peber]] [[de:Capsicum annuum]] [[es:Capsicum annuum]] [[eu:Piper]] [[fr:Capsicum annuum]] [[he:פלפל (ירק)]] [[hu:Közönséges paprika]] [[id:Paprika]] [[it:Capsicum annuum]] [[ja:トウガラシ]] [[ko:카프시쿰 아눔]] [[nl:Capsicum annuum]] [[pl:Papryka roczna]] [[pt:Capsicum annuum]] [[ru:Перец овощной]] [[sq:Speci]] [[sl:Paprika]] [[fi:Paprika]] [[sv:Spanskpeppar]] [[zh:青椒]]