Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

Description

The wild ancestor of C. annuum. One of the oldest used hot peppers in North America, consumed by indigenous peoples for 8 000+ years. Small round fruits (~5 mm) ripening red, dispersed by birds. Intense but short-lasting pungency (50 000–100 000 SHU). In the USA, protected in Arizona as a 'native plant'.

Called 'mother of all peppers' in Mexican tradition. Fruits collected wild and sold in Mexican and Texan markets. Crossing with cultivated C. annuum forms is easy and commonly exploited by breeders.

Phylogénie

Habitat & Distribution

Conservation