CAPSICUM ANNUUM — CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS. 



CAPSICUM ANNUUM, Linn.* 



Red, or pod pepper; lal mireh (Hind.) 



Natural order Solanacece. Annual. Peduncles solitary. Flowers drooping. Fruit 2-3 inches 

 long, reflex, red or yellow. 



A native of South America, and probably from Brazil. It is cultivated extensive- 

 ly throughout the plains of India, and on the lower hills up to 6,500 feet. Dr. Stewart 

 remarks that when grown on the hills the fruit becomes more pungent. There are 

 several varieties, differing in the shape and colour of the fruit. 



Like many other American productions this plant was no doubt introduced into 

 India by the Portuguese. The dried fruit is largely used by all classes of natives as an 

 ingredient in curries and other food preparations. The green pods are pickled, and 

 when ripe are mixed with tomatos for making sauces for European consumption. As a 

 medicine it is regarded as stomachic and stimulant, and is also used externally as a 

 rubefacient. 



\ 



CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS, Linn.* 



[ ride Plate LXXIV.] 



Cayenne pepper, chillies, spur, or red pepper; mirch (Hind.), lal gachh (Beng.), kursani 

 (Kumaun). 



Natural order Solanacece. A largo shrub-like annual. Pedicels solitary. Fruit pendent, 

 elongate-oblong and tapering at each end, often curved, red orange or yellow. 



This plant, which is cultivated all over India, is a comparatively recent introduction 

 from South America. Dr. Watt says, that of the Indian cultivated species this is per- 

 haps the commonest, as it is also the largest, being sometimes cultivated in the hedges 



* References :— Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed ), 193 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod., EL, 134 \ Stewart, Pnnj. PL, 156 : 

 Bent and Trimcn. Med. PI., 189 ; DC, L'Orig. PL Cult.. 230. 



t FL Br. Ind., IV., 239 ; Roxb. Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed.), 193 ; Watt., Diet. Econom. Prod., II., 137 ; Roylc, 111. Him. 

 Dot., 280 ; Atkinson, Him. Dist., L, 705, 730 ; Yule and Burncll, Gloss., 150 ; DC, L'Orig. PI. Cult., 231. 



