CAYENNE
Bombay Cayenne ([Fig. 2]) has large pods, from two to three inches long, which when dry become flat in shape and of a pale-red color. It is not so fine flavored or pungent as the Zanzibar and is of less value.
The true Mexican chillies are grown mostly in Frantera de Tabasco, Mexico, the name being much used for Cayenne chillies from other countries, as has been mentioned.
The smaller varieties (C. baccatum) have been known in the English gardens since 1731; plants, small and very erect, and slender branches, fastigiate, flexous; corolla, small, spreading about one-half an inch, and has a globular fruit called cherry or berry capsicum, and are usually known as the “chillies” or “bird pepper.” They are not more than one-half to three-quarters of an inch while the C. annuum is two to three inches long.
C. fastigiatum (minimum) which is usually termed the shrubbery capsicum and by Rheede is called capo-malago, is found growing wild in South India and is extensively cultivated in tropical Africa and America. It is three to six feet high with prominently angled or somewhat channeled stem and loosely spreading or trailing branches; leaves broadly ovate and acuminate, three to six inches long and two to three and one-half inches wide; peduncles, slender and one to two inches long in pairs, usually longer than the fruit; calyx, cup-shaped, embracing base of fruit; corolla, often with acherous markings in the throat; fruit, red, obtuse or oblong, acuminate, three-fourths to one and one-fourth inches long, and one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch in diameter, and very acrid.
C. annuum (Longum crossum), bell-shaped, of Algeria, which are often spoken of as herbaceous, and by Rheede as vallia capo-malago, the difference being chiefly in the nature of the stem.
It is two feet high with few branches and very large leaves, often three to five inches long, and sometimes caricous, lower ones usually pendant petioles, deeply channeled; peduncles, about one inch long; corolla, large and spreading seven-eighths to one and one-fourth inches; fruit, large, oblate, oblong or truncated, three to four-lobed, usually with basal depressions, more or less sulcate and rugose; flesh, thick, firm and mild flavor.
The Minimum in Hindoostan is named “Dhan Nurich.” The C. grossum bears fruit as large as a small apple and is called by the English in India coffrie chillie. It is preferred for pickling, the seed being first removed. The skin is fleshy and tender.
C. fasciculatum has few branches and clustered leaves or crowded in branches about the summit, elliptical, lanceolate, pointed at both ends; fruit clustered erect, slender, about three inches long, one-fourth inch in diameter, very acrid and is the red cluster pepper.