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Capsicum baccatum

Capsicum baccatum

9.1
A pepper plant from tropical America that has small very hot red fruits often used in cooking
  • noun
  • /ˈkæpsɪkəm bɑːˈkɑːtəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pimiento baccatum
  • The Capsicum baccatum plant thrives in warm climates.

Examples

  • Many South American dishes feature the Capsicum baccatum for its unique heat and flavor.

  • The botanist studied a wild variety of Capsicum baccatum in the rainforest.

  • Farmers have cultivated Capsicum baccatum for generations, selecting the hottest fruits for seed.

  • Many chefs prefer Capsicum baccatum for its unique flavor.

  • Farmers have cultivated Capsicum baccatum for generations, selecting the hottest fruits for seed.

  • Many South American dishes feature the Capsicum baccatum for its unique heat and flavor.

  • The botanist studied a wild variety of Capsicum baccatum in the rainforest.

Synonyms

Capsicum frutescens baccatum
vsCapsicum baccatum
  • Specialized
9.9

A small plant with tiny, very hot red peppers used in South American cooking

is the standard species name covering these wild and cultivated plants
bird pepper
vsCapsicum baccatum
  • US
8.9

A small plant from Central America with tiny red fruits that are very hot to eat

emphasizes the full species covering wild forms and many cultivated descendants

How Hot

bird pepper
  • US
8.9
Capsicum baccatum
  • Specialized
9.1
serrano
1 3.5
bell pepper
  • US
21 1.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Capsicum + baccatum

This is a Linnaean binomial: 'Capsicum' clearly names the pepper genus so a learner who knows that constituent can infer the phrase refers to a kind of pepper. However, 'baccatum' is a Latin species epithet (undefined here) and does not transparently convey the specific properties (small, hot, oblong, tropical) to a B1 learner, so the full meaning cannot be derived without botanical knowledge.

Etymology

Capsicum baccatum comes from old Latin words: Capsicum meaning 'box' and baccatum meaning 'berry'. So the name gives a simple picture — a pepper like a small berry, which fits this species with its small, hot red fruits.