CAPSICUM, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Solonacete. The species are called Bird-Peppers. The shell of the fruit is fleshy and coloured, and contains a pungent principle, which also exists in its seed in great activity. On this account both the fruit and seeds of different species of Capsicum are in request as a condiment, and either in the unprepared state or ground, when they are called Cayenne Pepper, form a conspicuous feature amongst the plants affording stimulating oils used by man. In Europe the Cap sicum enters largely into the seasoning of food and the preparation of pickles, and in warmer countries it constitutes one of the first neces saries of life either green or ripe. The species from which the fresh Capsicums used in Europe are principally obtained is the Capsicum, annum, a weedy plant found wild in South America and the West Indies. This species grows from one to two feet high, forming a dark green bush, with ovate or ovate-lanceolate leaves; its flowers are small and white; its fruit is extremely variable in size, colour, position, and even in quality. Red and yellow are the prevailing colours; the oblong-conical is the ordinary figure; and to hang in a drooping position is the most usual direction of the fruit. But round, ovate,
and even depressed fruit is known, and many varieties constantly bear their fruit in an erect position. Most of them are too pungent for European palates; but the large Red Bullock's Heart and Yellow Tomato Capsicums are mild enough to be sliced with salad.
A much hotter species is the C. fruticosum, or Goat-Pepper, a native of the East Indies, which differs.from the C. annuunt in being a shrub and in its fruit being very small. There is also a kind cultivated by the Chinese, with black fruit; and botanists recognise many others, but they appear to be in many cases mere varieties of C. annsune or C. frut icosunt.
The acrid principle of Capsicum has been analysed by Braconnot Annales de Chimie,' vol. vi., p.122), who found it not to be volatile, to dissolve readily in water, more freely in alcohol and ether, and that it is mixed with mucilage, wax, and resin.
The species of Capsicum are easily brought to perfection in this country. Their seeds are sown in a hot-bed in the beginning of April; the young plants are managed like other tender annuals; and about the end of May they are planted in the open air under a south wall. They will readily ripen their fruit in such a situation.