Description
Chilli Name: PI 439447
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 439447 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from the Highlands of Bolivia
PI 439447 is a wild chilli accession collected in Bolivia, officially classified as Capsicum eximium, and preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. Like other eximium accessions, it originates from the cool, high-altitude environments of the Andes — one of the most ecologically diverse regions for wild Capsicum species.
The plant is a compact, shrubby perennial, well adapted to poor soils and fluctuating mountain climates. It displays the classic traits of C. eximium: purple flowers with pale centres, narrow leaves, and often purplish stems. The pods are tiny, upright, round to oval-shaped, ripening from green to a vibrant red. Though small, they are highly pungent, typically falling between 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
PI 439447 is primarily valued as a genetic resource, offering traits like cold tolerance, disease resistance, and natural resilience. These features make it a valuable candidate for breeding programmes aiming to improve cultivated chilli varieties, particularly in terms of hardiness and pest resistance.
While its small pod size limits its culinary use, PI 439447 holds importance for researchers and collectors interested in the wild evolutionary history of chillies, especially from South America’s highland ecosystems.
In short, this accession is a rugged, fiery representative of Bolivia’s wild Capsicum diversity — a glimpse into the ancient roots of the chilli family.
