Capsicums - the necessary hot spice

Capsicums (chile peppers)

Capsicums are members of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family, [also called the poison nightshade family] and are therefore also related to tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants as well as belladonna (Atropa belladonna aka deadly nightshade) and tobacco. In the tropics, Capsicums are perennial shrubs and quite hardy and sometimes as tall as small trees. In temperate zones Capsicums are grown commercially as annuals. Amateur gardeners, by using containers or greenhouses, sometimes grow Capsicums as tender perennials.

Domesticated Capsicums:

Wild Capsicums:

 The Capsicum Darwinian strategy:

Capsicums - Capsaicinoids:

Capsaicinoids are found in blisterlike sacs at the junction of the fruits placenta and inner wall. Therefore you can tell how hot a ripe, red chile pepper will be by simple inspection. Cut open the Capsicum pod and look at the walls. If the placenta (ribs) are bright orange and there are many large sacs, the fruit will be very hot. If there is only a hint of color, the chile pepper will be mild.

Capsicums cultivars:

There are either four or five species of cultivated Capsicums (depending on whom is counting*):

Capsicums - origin and dispersal:

Capsicums which originated in the tropical regions of the New World, now, through the agency of man and bird, grow wild in all of the major tropical regions of the world. Shortly after the European discovery of the New World, Capsicums showed up on the west coast of Africa. Within 50 years, birds raiding African gardens had spread Capsicums throughout sub-saharan Africa. A similar progression occurred in Asia and Australia.