1038

                                 Capsicum frutescens L.

Family	:	SOLANACEAE
Local name	:	English-     Bird Chilli Malayalam-  Kantharimulaku
Flowering and fruiting period	:	Throughout the year
Distribution	:	Tropical America; widely cultivated
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Uses		Fruit - raw or cooked. Very hot and normally used as a flavouring[
Key Botanical Characters: Shrubby perennials. Leaves c. 10 x 5.2 cm, ovate-lanceolate, base obliquely rounded to acute, apex gradually acuminate; petiole to 2.6 cm long. Flowers usually 2-3 per node. Calyx cupular, lobes 5, triangular, acute. Corolla white, lobes 5, triangular-ovate, puberulous without. Stamens 5, exserted; filaments to 1.5 mm long; anthers oblong. Stigma capitate. Fruit green or white, gradually tapering towards apex, erect. Seeds many, compressed, circular.