Capsicum chinense

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Capsicum chinense is a species of chili pepper native to the Americas. C. chinense varieties are well known for their exceptional heat and unique flavors. The most famous representative of this species is the Habanero chili. Other well-known varieties include the Scotch bonnet and the Naga Morich.

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈkæpsɪkəm tʃɪˈnɛnsiː/

Etymology

The species name chinense is derived from the mistaken belief that the peppers were originally cultivated in China. The genus name Capsicum is derived from the Greek word kapto, which means "to bite", a reference to the heat and spiciness of the fruits.

Related terms

  • Capsicum: The genus to which C. chinense belongs. It includes all the species of chili peppers.
  • Capsaicin: The chemical compound that gives chili peppers their heat. It is most concentrated in the placenta of the fruit, which holds the seeds.
  • Scoville scale: A measure of the heat of chili peppers, or other spicy foods. It is named after its creator, American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville.

See also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski