Name
| Family Name | |
| Genus Epithet | |
| Species Epithet | |
| Infraspecific Epithet | |
| Common Names | |
| Comments |
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Annual |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 1.2 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.2 m to 0.4 m |
Biogeography
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Exotic (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Annual herb up to 0.3 m tall. |
| Foliage | Green, smooth leaves are elliptic (3 cm long, 1.5 cm wide). |
| Flowers | White, star-shaped flowers are about 1 cm wide and occur singly in the leaf axil (the junction between the leaf petiole and stem). Each flower contains about 5 stamens (male flower part) which bear black, oval anthers (pollen-bearing part). A yellow stigma (female flower part) is about the same length as the stamens and is positioned in the middle of them. |
| Fruits | Glossy, red peppers are narrow and twisted, tapering to a thin, curled tip (9.5 cm long, 1 cm wide). The surface is wrinkled and hairless. |
| Cultivation | Seeds may take 7 to 10 days to germinate. Depending on the varieties, the plant may take 100 to 120 days to mature. |
| Etymology | Cayenne peppers are named after the city of Cayenne which is located in French Guiana, South America. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Fruits) Food (Herb and Spice) |
Landscaping Features
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Crinkled / Twisted |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Red |
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Wrinkled |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Fleshy Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | Non-Accessory Fruit |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 32116 |
| Species ID | 6522 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
