Tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens)

Cabai rawit or tabasco pepper (Capsicum frutescens) is a plant species in Solanaceae, growing annuals as shrubs for 50-135 cm tall and widening 50-90 cm, an important horticulture and widely cultivated for fruits that have a spicy taste for various uses.

C. frutescens has a perpendicular and sturdy stem, a diameter of 1.5-3 cm, woody and greenish brown. Formation of wood on the main stem begins at the age of 30 days after budding. Each leaf armpit will grow new shoots as secondary branches, tertiary and so on with a Y shape and can reach 21-23 branches.

Strong, branching roots to the side form fibrous roots, penetrating the soil to a depth of 50 cm and a width of 45 cm. The leaves are bright green to dark green depending on variety, have stems, oval shaped with tapered ends and pinnate bones.

Flowers emerge from the leaf armpits, hermaphrodites, trumpet-shaped and complete organs. Usually hanging, calyx has six greenish strands and corolla has five white strands. Pistilum stems are white with greenish-yellow heads.

Each flower has one pistilum and six white colored stamen with purplish blue anthers. After pollination fertilization will occur. At the time of formation of the corolla fruit generally will fall but calyx remains attached to the fruit.

The fruit is short round with a pointed or conical tip, 2-3.5 cm long and 5-12 mm wide, yellowish white when young and red when ripe, flat round, arranged in clusters and attached to the pith.

Tabasco pepper grows well in clay-textured soils, sandy loam and dusty loam, pH 5.5-6.5, open land to get sunlight from morning to evening and good drainage system in the rainy season.

Fresh fruit contains 11,050 SI of vitamin A, or more than any other chili, considered important for ingredients in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Usually used to cure sore throats, replace the function of rubbing oil to reduce aches, rheumatism, shortness of breath, itching, boils, skin irritation and stimulate appetite.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Subfamily: Solanoideae
Tribe: Capsiceae
Genus: Capsicum
Species: Capsicum frutescens
Varieties: Capsicum frutescens var. baccatum, Capsicum frutescens var. cerasiforme, Capsicum frutescens var. grossum, Capsicum frutescens var. longum, Capsicum frutescens f. piment

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