Most of the wild species of capsicums are of Brazilian origin. Major among them are Capsicum caatingae, Capsicum recurvatum, Capsicum mirabile, Capsicum dusenii, Capsicum longidentatum, Capsicum leptopodum, Capsicum buforum, and Capsicum campylopodium. A detailed account of some major wild species of capsicums is given below:
Capsicum cardenasii: Capsicum cardenasii is a wild species of capsicum. It is a member of Capsicum pubescens complex. The plant is a close relative to Capsicum eximium. The plant is believed to be a native to the Andes, and is found growing in Bolivia also. The plant is called “ulupica”in its native places. A popular cultivar is ‘Wild Dynamo’. It is a perennial shrub with woody stems. The plant grows up to a height of 1 meter and width of 50 cm upon full growth. Leaves are shiny green with an erect petiole, and are narrow with a pointed tip. Leaves are lanceolate and pubescent (with hairs). Flowers are tubular and purple-coloured. Flowers (one or two) are produced at the internodes. Flowers are campanulate (bell-shaped), and pendant. Fruits are small berries with a round shape. Ripe fruits are fleshy, red in colour and are highly pungent (30,000 SHU). Fruits are used as a spice. Fruits are sometimes called as ‘chiltepins’.
Capsicum chacoense: Capsicum chacoense is a wild species of Capsicum. C. chacoense is believed to be a native to the region comprising of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Common names of the plant are ‘Tova’ or ‘Covincho’ (Paraguay), ‘ají putaparió’ (Argentina), and ‘ají puta madre’ (Chile). A major cultivar is ‘Sparky‘. The plant produces very hot, edible fruits (50,000–75,000 SHU). Capsicum chacoense is a small, erect, evergreen perennial shrub with woody, evenly-branched stems. The plant grows to 80 cm and up to 1 meter in height. Leaves are large, flat, and medium-green in colour. Leaves are roundish with a point at the end. The plants can be grown as annual in cool, moderate climates. Flowering season is summer. Flowers are small, and white-coloured with five petals. Fruit is a berry and is triangular. Fruit measures about 2.5 cm long and 0.5 cm wide when fully ripe. Ripe fruits are fleshy, bright red in color and are very hot. These hot, pungent fruits are edible and are used as a spice and condiment.
Capsicum cornutum: Capsicum cornutum is a Brazilian wild species of Capsicum. The plant is a large, bushy shrub. The chromosome number of Capsicum cornutum is 2n = 26 with 13 pairs of chromosomes. “cornutum” is a Latin word means “horn” which refers to the folded peduncle of the floral bud. Capsicum cornutum is a large, perennial shrub with woody stems. It grows to a height of 1.2 to 2 meters under good growing conditions. The plant is pubescent and all stems and leaves are covered with dense hairs. Leaves are medium-sized, dark green and glossy. Flowers are white with purple or brown spots in the center and have a green corolla tube. Fruits are sunken, spherical-shaped, fleshy berries and are yellowish green in colour. Each fruit is divided into two chambers containing many black seeds in it.
Capsicum exile: It is also known as “the Cobincho Pepper”. Capsicum exile is another wild species of Capsicum genus. It is a native to Bolivia. It is considered as a rare species of chile pepper. It is believed to be a variant of Capsicum chacoense, another wild species of Capsicum. It is an open pollinated wild species of capsicum. Plants are perennial and look like small shrubs with green, woody stems. They can grow up to a height of 1.5 meter. Leaves are small, dark green and smooth. Flowers are small, and white. Fruits are blunted and oval shaped berries, and grow to 1-2 cm long. Ripe fruits are fleshy, orange-red colored and are very hot (15,000 SHU). Fruits are edible and can be used like other hot peppers.
Capsicum eximium: Capsicum eximium is another wild species of Capsicum genus. It is a large perennial shrub or a small tree, belonging to the Capsicum pubescens complex. It is native to Bolivia and Argentina. Capsicum eximium is a large, woody, perennial shrub that grows to 1.5 metres tall. Occasionally, the plant keeps on growing to become a small tree, in some cases up to 4 metres tall. The plant is very hardy and easy to grow. It is a purple-flowered species of capsicum. Fruits are edible and are hot like other chile peppers. The plant has distinctive purple-coloured flowers with an entire calyx and bell-shaped corolla. Fruits are small, non-pulpy berries with a shiny, orange to purple-coloured skin. Many seeds are present in a fruit and seeds are yellow in colour. Fruits are pungent and highly hot and hence recommended for use in small quantities. Fruits are used as a spice and condiment to flavour various food preparations.
Capsicum flexuosum: Capsicum flexuosum is another wild species of capsicum genus. It is believed to be a native to Brazil. Plants are small, hardy and are perennial in growth habit. It is easy to grow these plants. Capsicum flexuosum is a small, perennial shrub with woody stems and shiny green leaves. Flowers are in different colours such as white, green, and sometimes purple. Flowers have an entire calyx and bell-shaped (campanulate) corolla with a green center. Fruits are tiny, red berries that look like a bullet in shape. Each fruit is about 7 mm long. Fruits are mildly pungent and are used as a spice.
Capsicum galapagoense or Galapagos Pepper: Capsicum galapagoense is another wild species of Capsicum. It is termed as “one of the rarest chile pepper species on the Earth” by chile pepper enthusiasts because of the rareness of the plant. It is also known as “Galapagos Pepper” because this chile species is believed to be a native to the Galapagos Islands of Isabela and Santa Cruz regions of South America. C. galapagoense is also found in Ecuador. Outside these regions, it is very difficult to grow these plants because of the distinctive growing requirements for the plant. Galapagos pepper belongs to the Capsicum annuum complex, and is closely related to C. annuum var. glabriusculum and C. chacoense. C. galapagoense is a small, bushy, perennial, evergreen shrub that grows up to 50-120 cm tall. It is a beautiful plant covered by dense hairs and is known for its ornamental foliage and attractive red-coloured berries. Leaves are mild green, small-sized, pubescent (with the hairy structures), and strongly fragrant. When touched the plant releases a pleasant aroma. Flowers of ‘Galapagos Pepper’ look similar to flowers of C. annum plants. Flowers are erect, very small, delicate, and pure white coloured. They are very beautiful flowers with white corolla and bright yellow anthers and stigma. They look hairy and velvety in appearance. Fruits are tiny, round, red berries which are edible but very hot to taste. The pea-sized fruit measures to 0.5cm long which is dark green while immature and turn to red when ripe. However, it takes very long time for the fruit to turn red. Each fruit contains many yellow-brown coloured seeds. Seeds are slow-germinating.
Capsicum lanceolatum: Capsicum lanceolatum is another wild species of chile pepper plant. It is believed to be a native to the region comprising of Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Its scientific name, ‘lanceolatum’ means ‘lance-like’ which denotes the shape of the leaves. C. lanceolatum is also called “Bonchi” or ‘Bonsai Chile Pepper’ because it makes an ideal bonsai specimen for indoor displays because of its long, lance-like leaves and thick, woody stems. The plant is very tough and grows to maturity in a short time. Capsicum lanceolatum is an evergreen, perennial, erect-growing bushy shrub which sometimes grows to a small tree of 5 meters tall. Normally the plant grows to a height of 1-2meters. The plant is known for its large, elongated, lance-like, hairy leaves which are unlike leaves of other chile pepper plants. Leaves are shiny and dark green and grow mostly in pairs. Leaf shape and size varies with the age of the plant. Leaves of young plants are small and round with a size of 0.5 to 2cm (length) × 0.8 to 1.5 cm (width). Leaf of a mature plant measures about 6 to 11 cm (length) X 1.5 to 3 cm (width). Flowers are normally yellowish-white coloured with a white corolla having green/purple spots. Its calyx has very long teeth. However, in some varieties, purple flowers are also seen. Flowers are borne solitary at the stem internodes. Flowering season is from May to December. Fruits are very small, round, orange-red, fleshy berries with black seeds. Fruit shape is very distinct and different from the fruit shapes of other chile pepper plants. Fruits are not pungent.
Capsicum parvifolium: Capsicum parvifolium is another wild species of chile pepper plants. It is believed to be a native to the region comprising of north-east Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. It is a white-flowered capsicum species. The plant is very rarely cultivated for its edible fruits which are highly pungent. Capsicum parvifolium is a small, evergreen, perennial shrub having a bushy growth habit. Mature plants reach to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters with a spread of 1.5 meters or more. Leaves are glossy green, ovate to elliptical with a pointed tip. Flowers are small and white-coloured. Fruits are small, round, red-coloured berries which are edible and are very hot.
Capsicum praetermissum or Cumari: Capsicum praetermissum is a common wild species of chile pepper plants, which is native to Brazil where it is called as ‘Cumari’. Cumari is commercially cultivated in some parts of Brazil and fruits are available in local markets for purchase. Cumari is also known as Capsicum baccatum var. praetermissum. It is an erect-growing, upright, short perennial shrub that grows to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters on full growth. The plant is vigorous-growing, beautiful-looking, aromatic and high-yielding. Leaves are glossy green, either smooth or hairy with approx.3.5 cm long petioles. Each individual leaf measures about 8 cm long and 6.5 cm wide. The most important trait of C.praetermissum plants are its ornamental flowers. Flowers have a white corolla with large purple edges around the petals and have a greenish yellow centre. Delicate, small and pretty flowers are born in clusters. They are highly decorative and ornamental in appearance. Ripe fruits are small, red-coloured, pea-sized berries which are oblong (egg-shaped), erect, and deciduous. Each fruit measures about 3-4mm in size and contains numerous seeds. Seeds are pale yellow in colour and are very hot (30,000 – 50,000 SHU).
Capsicum rhomboideum: Capsicum rhomboideum is a controversial species of capsicum which was earlier known as Capsicum ciliatum. It is a very rare and exceptional species of capsicum and does not look like other chile pepper plants. It is a rarely cultivated species of capsicums and is considered as a wild species from South America. It is believed to be a native from Southern Mexico through Venezuela and Northern Peru regions. The plant is found growing at an altitude of 1400 to 1500 meters. Its scientific name “rhomboideum” refers to the rhomboidal shape of the leaves. Capsicum rhomboideum is a small, perennial compact-looking shrub that can grow as high as 2 meter to 2.5 meters. Its stems are densely covered in trichomes or small hairs, thus making it pubescent. Leaves are large, glossy green, rounded, and hairy, velvety in appearance. Leaves do not look like those of other chile pepper plants. Each leaf measures about 6 cm long and 5 cm wide. One of the important traits of this chile pepper plant is its yellow-coloured flowers. Flowers are small, bright yellow in colour and bell-shaped with a five-toothed calyx. Flower has very long calyx teeth. Flowers are borne on long stems. Ripe fruits are tiny, red-coloured, round berries and are fleshy and soft to touch. Fruits are non-pungent with mild sweetness and are edible. Each fruit measures about 4-6 mm in diameter and contains 2 -6 seeds depending on the size of the fruit. Seeds are brown coloured.
Capsicum schottianum: Capsicum schottianum is a wild species of chile peppers which is rarely cultivated. The plant is believed to be a native to Argentina, South Brazil and South-East Paraguay. The plant is found growing in many regions of South America. Capsicum schottianum is an erect-growing, small, evergreen, perennial shrub. It is a highly-branching plant with a zigzag pattern of growth. The plant grows to 80-100 cm tall upon full growth. Flowers are small, delicate and white-coloured with yellow-green spots at the base of the petals. Ripe fruits are long, pendulous, reddish-orange berries which are edible.
Capsicum villosum: Capsicum villosum is a rarely cultivated, wild species of chile peppers. This plant is native to southern Brazil. It is a very beautiful plant with dark green foliage and densely pubescent leaves and stems. It is a close relative to other wild chile pepper plants such as Capsicum campylopodium, Capsicum cornutum, Capsicum friburgense, Capsicum mirabile, Capsicum pereirae, Capsicum recurvatum and Capsicum schottianum. Capsicum villosum is a large, evergreen, perennial shrub that grows to 1 to 3 meters on full growth. The entire plant is densely pubescent with small hairs present on stems and leaves and everywhere on the plant. Flowers are beautiful and star-shaped and are white -colored with large yellow centers. Fruits are tiny, globular, yellowish-green colored berries. Each fruit is divided into two chambers which contain black seeds.
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