Description
Chilli Name: PI 446904
Chilli Species: Baccatum var. baccatum
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 446904 Chilli — A Rare Wild Chilli from the Amazonian Edge of Brazil
PI 446904 is a wild chilli accession from Brazil, classified under the species Capsicum baccatum var. baccatum, and preserved in the USDA’s Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This particular variety was collected near Rondônia, in the western Amazon region, making it part of the diverse and underexplored wild baccatum gene pool.
The plant grows as a sprawling, bushy shrub, with characteristic white flowers marked by greenish-yellow spots — a defining trait of the baccatum species. It produces small, upright, teardrop-shaped pods, typically ripening from pale green to red. The pods are thin-walled and intensely aromatic, with a medium to high heat level, generally estimated at around 20,000–40,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
PI 446904 stands out for its hardiness, vigorous growth, and potential for low-input farming, making it attractive for both backyard growers and researchers. It thrives in humid climates, but adapts well to greenhouse or sheltered outdoor cultivation in temperate zones with a long season.
As a wild or semi-domesticated landrace, PI 446904 is valuable for breeding programmes, especially for introducing disease resistance and regional flavour diversity into modern baccatum lines. For collectors and enthusiasts, it offers a chance to grow a chilli with true Amazonian origins — fiery, fragrant, and full of potential.
