Capsicum

Capsicum, genus of related plants, containing ten species, including the common red pepper, varieties of which are important food plants. The fruit is a many-seeded berry. The fruit of one variety is known variously as pod pepper, red pepper, or capsicum. Under its Mexican name, chilli, it is used in sauces and mixed pickles. Cayenne pepper is made from the dried, ground seeds and pods. The fruit of another variety is the mild-flavoured green or red sweet pepper eaten as a vegetable. The hot pepper is the source of ®Tabasco and other hot sauces.

Scientific classification: Capsicums belong to the family Solanaceae. Many peppers are produced by the plant classified as Capsicum annuum variety annuum. Those that bear the fruit known as pod pepper, red pepper, or capsicum are placed in the longum group within Capsicum annuum variety annuum, those that bear the green or red sweet pepper are placed in the grassum group within Capsicum annuum variety annuum, and the hot pepper is classified as Capsicum frutescens.