About Capsicum frutescens L.
Capsicum frutescens L. produces white flowers, with a corolla that is greenish white or greenish yellow. Its flowers undergo either insect pollination or self-pollination. The berries of this plant typically grow in an erect position, and have shapes ranging from ellipsoid-conical to lanceoloid. They are usually very small and pungent, reaching 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) in length and 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) in diameter. When the fruit first develops, it is typically pale yellow, and matures to a bright red, though it can also appear in other colors. Capsicum frutescens has a smaller range of fruit shapes than other species in the Capsicum genus. This species has been selectively bred to create ornamental strains, valued for their large quantities of erect peppers that grow with colorful ripening patterns. Capsicum frutescens likely originated in South or Central America. It spread rapidly across the tropical and subtropical regions of this area, and still grows wild in the region today. It is native to Central America, and to the northern and western parts of South America. C. frutescens may be related to C. chinense.
