Chilli ID?

Ianab · July 23, 2014, 08:51:16 PM

Anyone recognise this? A mystery Chili

Mum's neighbour gave it to her to pass on to me, but only said it was a "hot" pepper?

NZ hot? (mild :D)
Habanero hot? (tasty

)
Bhut Jolokia hot? (weapons grade

)

Don't know. Anyway I've saved the seeds as instructed, and decided to make some chilli infused oil. That way I can dilute it if it's one of the dangerous ones. I wasn't game to just throw it in a stir fry and let the family test it. :D

Ian

goose63 · July 23, 2014, 09:18:15 PM

Well if it burns going down and don't smell good in the morning its good chili

WDH · July 23, 2014, 09:49:06 PM

Looks pretty habaneroish

.

Texas Ranger · July 23, 2014, 10:59:13 PM

will cauterize your hemorrhoids

Ianab · July 23, 2014, 11:31:28 PM

A bit of online sleuthing makes me think it's a variety of Capsicum pubescens. Fairly hot, something like Cayenne or Tobasco maybe? The fruit are round like a tomato instead of the more normal capsicum or longer chilli shape. The seeds are also black coloured which is another clue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsicum_pubescens

Apparently it grows as a small shrub or tree and can fruit for ~15 years. Not sure how it it will survive winter here, but I'll try some seeds and plant them up against the house and see how they do.