Capsicum flexuosum
| Capsicum flexuosum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Capsicum flexuosum at flowering | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Capsicum |
| Species: | C. flexuosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Capsicum flexuosum Hunz | |
Background
Capsicum flexuosum is a member of the genus Capsicum with 2n=2x=24, and native to the New World, specifically the southern regions of Brazil. It is closely related to Capsicum eximium. Unlike most other chili peppers, it is only mildly pungent and has issues with self-compatibility. [1] [2] Natural hybrids between C. eximium have been found, further supporting the relationship of these species.[3]
Plant description
Capsicum flexuosum is identified by its distinctive white, green, and sometimes purple flowers. The flowers have an entire calyx and campanulate corolla that come in various color varieties, but are generally green toward the center changing to white at the petal edges . Mature fruit of C. flexuosum are tiny, berries with a bullet shape about 7 mm long that ripen to red. It is propagated by seed. [4]
Uses
In Brazil, where the plants occur naturally, C. flexusoum is sometimes used as a spice. [1] Also, since it is a wild pepper species, it has been used extensively in phylogenetic studies to better understand the relationships of peppers and different gene models.This species has also been used as a "bridge species" to cross more distantly related Capsicums to those more related to domesticated species.
References
- 1 2 Tewksbury, Joshua J.; Manchego, Carlos; Haak, David C.; Levey, Douglas J. (2006-03-30). "Where did the Chili Get its Spice? Biogeography of Capsaicinoid Production in Ancestral Wild Chili Species". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 32 (3): 547–564. doi:10.1007/s10886-005-9017-4. ISSN 0098-0331.
- ↑ Onus, A. Naci; Pickersgill, Barbara (2004-08-01). "Unilateral Incompatibility in Capsicum (Solanaceae): Occurrence and Taxonomic Distribution". Annals of Botany. 94 (2): 289–295. doi:10.1093/aob/mch139. ISSN 0305-7364. PMC 4242164
. PMID 15229125. - ↑ Ibiza, Vicente P.; Blanca, José; Cañizares, Joaquín; Nuez, Fernando (2011-08-28). "Taxonomy and genetic diversity of domesticated Capsicum species in the Andean region". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 59 (6): 1077–1088. doi:10.1007/s10722-011-9744-z. ISSN 0925-9864.
- ↑ Heiser, Charles B.; Smith, Paul G. (1958-10-01). "New species of Capsicum from South America". Brittonia. 10 (4): 194–201. doi:10.2307/2804950. ISSN 0007-196X.