XVI. 
CAPSICUM ANNUUM. 
Capsicum or Chilly.* 
Synonyms.—Piper Indicum vulgatissimum, Bauhk. Mw., 162. Vallia. Capo. 
Molago, Rheed, Mal, ii. tab. 35. 
Forrran Namus.—Fr.: Poivre d’Inde, Poivre @’ Espagne. Germ.: Span- 
ischer Pfeffer. Ttal.: Pepe di Guinea, Peperone. Span.: Pimentero annua, 
Pimiento da Indias. Port.: Pimentaa da India. Dut.: Spaansche Peper. Swed. 
and Dan.: Spansh Pepper. Russ.: Perets strulschkovoi. Avab.: Fetfel-achmar. 
Pers.: Fulfili-surkh. Tam.: Mollagai. : 
Nat. Order, Souanrm, Juss.; Luriwm, Linn,—Penranprt, 
Monoyenta. 
Gen. Cuar.— Calyx five-toothed, persistent. Corolla rotate, five-cleft. 
Anthers converging, two cells, dehiscing by fissures. Berry juiceless. 
papery, hollow, two to four-celled, many-seeded, naked. Seeds naked. 
Sexo. Cxin.— Poduncles solitary. Fruit oblong, pendulous. Petioles 
smooth. Stem herbaceous. 
History.—Sprengel (Hist. Rei Herb., vol. i. p. 201) makes 
the Piperitis or Siliquastrum of Pliny the Capsicum annuum 
of Linneus, but Roxburgh doubts this plant being a native of 
Asia, and considers it exclusively a native of South America, 
in which case it must have been unknown to the ancients. 
It has been generally used only as a condiment. As a medi- 
Fig. 1. The flower cut open, to show the stamens. 2. A separate stamen. 
8. The germens and pistil. 4. The seed-vessel. 
* Capsicum is derived either from xarrw, to bite, on account of the biting heat 
of the seed and pericarp, or from capsa, a chest, from the form and structure 
of the pericarp, 
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