CAPSICUM MINIMUM. 



37 



which border the fields. It is grown during the cold season, and thrives best in a light 

 sandy soil. It is largely used by all classes of nativ?s as a condiment. The fruit is 

 sold in the Saharanpur bazars at the rate of 4 annas per seer. 



DeCandolle says that the greater part of cayenne pepper is made from this species. 

 Simmonds and other authors, however, give C. annuum as the real source. 



Eoxburgh mentions that in Bengal a pointed variety with yellow or bright orange 

 coloured fruit, and called gachh murich by the Hindus, is the kind mostly used, especially 

 when dried, in which state it is found in every market. 



CAPSICUM MINIMUM, Roxh* 



[Vide Plate LXX1L] 



Bird's-eye chilli. 



Natural order Solanacece. Leaves ovate-cordate. Peduncles in pairs ; flowers drooping ; 

 calyx with subulate spreading teeth. Fruit subcylindric, erect. 



Introduced from South America. This species is cultivated in most parts of India, 

 but not to any great extent. It may be distinguished from C. annuum by the more 

 acute corolla lobes, the erect subcylindrical yellow fruit, and its smaller seeds. 



Dr. Watt remarks that this small chilli is rarely used by natives, but by Europeans 

 is steeped in vinegar and mixed with salt, and in this form it is employed as a season- 

 ing in stews, chops, &c. 



I am inclined to believe that much of the confusion regarding the identification 

 of cultivated capsicums is due to the fact of their constant liability to produce hybrids 

 when different kinds are grown in proximity; and it is quite possible that Plate 

 LXXII. represents a hybrid between C. frutescens and C. minimum with the general habit 

 of the former, and the erect pods of the latter. 



Explanation of Plate LXXII. 



1. Vertical section of flower. 3. Cross section of flower. 



2. Fruit. 4. Seed. 



* References :— H. Br. Ind., IV., 239 ; Roxb., Fl. Ind., (Clarke's Kd.), 193 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod., II, 139 ; 

 Pharraacogr. Ind., II., 562. C.fastigiatum, Blume ; Bent, and Trimen, Med. PI., 1880. 



