Solanaceae
Capsicum

Capsicum baccatum L.

First published in Mant. Pl. 1: 46 (1767)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Colombia to N. Argentina and Central & S. Brazil. It is a subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome. It is used as a medicine, has environmental uses and for food.

Descriptions

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
ají, ají chirel, ají chivato, ají de babilla, ají de la capitanía, ají dulce, ají pajarito, ají pimienta, ají pimiento, ají pique, conguito, pimentón, pimiento
[UNAL]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 500 m.; Llanura del Caribe.
Morphology General Habit
Subarbusto, arbusto
Conservation
Preocupación Menor
[CPLC]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular
BIRD PEPPER, WILD PEPPER
Morphology General Habit
Bushy herb or shrub to 2 m tall or more, glabrous or minutely pubescent, leaves narrowly ovate, acute or acuminate, 1.5–5 cm long or more, petiolate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels solitary or sometimes paired, 1–2 cm long, somewhat thickened toward the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 1–2 mm long, almost truncate or very shallowly 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla cream, ca. 6 mm across when expanded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers greenish-blue
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Berries usually red, ovoid or globose, 5–10 mm long or sometimes longer.
Distribution
Grand Cayman.Throughout tropical America, and naturalised in the Old World tropics.
Ecology
Frequent in thickets and along roadsides; sometimes cultivated.
[Cayman]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Caribbean. Elevation range: 0–500 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Magdalena.
Habit
Shrub, Subshrub.
Conservation
National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.
Vernacular
Ají, Ají chivato, Ají cimarrón
[UPFC]

Vernacular
Ají, Ají chirel, Ají chivato, Ají pimienta, Conguito
[UPFC]

Uses

Use
The fruits are very hot to the taste.
[Cayman]

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Gene Sources
Used as gene sources.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
[UPFC]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible

    • ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0