Capsicum Rhomboideum
Capsicum: Rhomboideum
Origin: Southern Mexico to Northern Peru
PI: 645680
Scoville units: 0
Blossom end shape: blunt
Fruit position and shape: pendant or erect
Fruit size and color: red, depressed, pea size
Calyx shape: 5 long teeth
Flower: bell shape
Petal/Spots: yellow/none
Filament color: white
Anther color:
Habit: small compact bush
Stem: smooth
Leaves: pubescent, roundish shape
Germ. Time: 1 wk > 2 mo.
Maturity: 80 days
Plant height: 24-36"
Taste:.
Usage:.
A very exotic and rare wild pepper bearing tiny, pea size red fruits without heat. This species is noteworthy as one of the remaining primitive wild peppers, an almost living fossil and part of a group of possible forbearers of the more common domesticated species.
Description: A small shrub that can grow as high as six feet though usually remains much smaller. Growth is more or less upright, somewhat compact. Compared with the common Capsicum's, this species barely looks like a pepper. Leaves are rounded, hairy and unlike common peppers in appearance. Flowers are bright yellow, with a general bell shape, but a distinctive Capsicum-like arrangement of stamens and pistils. The tiny berry fruits may follow flowering and ripen to red. Fruits are attached to a prominent five pronged calyx. The seeds are dark brown-black. C. rhomboideum is also of note for having 13 chromosome pairs (2n=26)---a trait shared with several extremely rare, primitive wild peppers. All domesticated and virtually all common wild peppers contain just 12 chromosome pairs (2n=24).
History: Received at NPGS 2005 and given a PI # 2007. The old name Capsicum ciliatum was changed to C. rhomboideum 2006. Seed color: dark brown/black

Credits & Sources: tradewinds capsicum rhomboideum

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