Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum L.
Capsicum annuum, a member of the Solanaceae family, is a flowering plant native to northern South America and southwestern North America. Commonly known as Bell Pepper, it is one of the oldest cultivated crops, with domestication dating back approximately 6,000 years in Mexico. The plant produces colorful berries, including red, green, and yellow, often with a pungent taste. It is widely cultivated globally for culinary, medicinal, self-defense, and ornamental uses. The species has a broad distribution across several regions in South America and is also found in parts of Europe and other continents.
Description
Capsicum annuum is a species in the genus Capsicum, part of the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is native to northern South America and southwestern North America. The plant is notable for its berries, which vary in color and often have a pungent flavor. The species has been cultivated for thousands of years and is widely used in food, medicine, and other applications. It is found in various regions in South America, including Antioquia, Bolívar, and Cauca, as well as in parts of Europe and other continents. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753. There has been some discussion regarding the type material, with differing opinions on which specimen should be considered the lectotype.
Other common names
Bell PepperBird PepperCayenne PepperChiliChili PepperChilliGreen PepperPaprikaPepperPimientoRed CapsicumSeasoning PepperSweet PepperSweet-Pepper
Distribution
Atlántico: Vereda Luriza (Distrito de Manejo Integrado Luriza), Finca El Palomar, Bolívar: Hacienda El Ceibal · Amazonas, Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Caquetá, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada · BR · Tuluá | Bolívar · Reserva Nacional Natural Nukak | Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete | Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis | Parque Nacional Natural Cahuinarí | Parque Nacional Natural Macuira | Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona | Parque Nacional Natural · TW · YE · RU · SC · Belgium · Flemish Region · Walloon Region · France · The Netherlands · Great Britain · GB · IT · PT · CD · DK · TD · BF · KM · GR · FM · Aratoca | Barichara | Capitanejo | Cepitá | Enciso | Piedecuesta | San José de Miranda | Villanueva · Austria · Latvia · Lithuania · Slovakia
Synonyms
Capsicum chlorocarpumCapsicum leucocarpumCapsicum luteumCapsicum annuum subsp. annuumCapsicum annuum var. aviculareCapsicum violaceumCapsicum frutescens var. grossumCapsicum grossumCapsicum hispidum var. hispidumCapsicum annuum f. annuumCapsicum indicum var. grossumCapsicum annuum var. grossum