Capsicum chacoense
Capsicum chacoense Hunz.
Capsicum chacoense is a species of the genus Capsicum in the Solanaceae family, native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It is a low, compact shrub or subshrub with a dwarf habit, profuse branching from a thick rootstock, and small leaves. The species is part of the Baccatum clade and is characterized by solitary flowers, entirely white corollas, and red mature fruits. It is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit.
Description
Capsicum chacoense is a low, compact shrub or subshrub, 0.4 to 2.5 m tall, with a thick basal rootstock and strongly branched stems. The leaves are membranous, 2–8 cm long, ovate to elliptic, and pubescent with eglandular trichomes. Inflorescences are axillary with solitary flowers, and the calyx has 10 appendages, typically with five longer ones alternating with five shorter ones. The species is part of the Baccatum clade and exhibits variability in pubescence and calyx appendage development. Populations with dense tomentose pubescence were previously classified as a separate variety, C. chacoense var. tomentosum. It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay and is occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit.
Distribution
Argentina Northeast · Argentina Northwest · Bolivia · Paraguay
Synonyms
Capsicum chacoense var. chacoenseCapsicum chacoense var. tomentosum