Capsicum eshbaughii

Capsicum eshbaughii Barboza

Capsicum eshbaughii is a wild chili pepper species native to central Bolivia, first described in 2011 by Gloria E. Barboza. It is distinguished by its dense covering of glandular trichomes, 10 calyx appendages, and bright-red fruits. The species belongs to the Purple corolla clade and is closely related to C. eximium and C. cardenasii. It hybridizes freely with these species in controlled conditions, though natural hybrids are not well documented.

Description

Capsicum eshbaughii is an erect shrub or subshrub reaching 1–3 m in height, with a main stem 1.5–3 cm in diameter at the base. It is densely covered with glandular trichomes, including long simple trichomes with multicellular stalks and unicellular heads, and furcate trichomes with one glandular and one eglandular branch. Leaves are ovate, with 3–4 major veins on each side of the mid-vein, and are densely pubescent on both surfaces. The species typically has 5–12 linear, unequal calyx appendages and lacks purple pigmentation in the corolla. Capsicum eshbaughii is part of the Purple corolla clade and has been observed to hybridize with C. eximium and C. cardenasii, producing fertile offspring in experimental settings.