Description
Chilli Name: CAPSICUM LEPTOPODUM
Chilli Species: Leptopodum
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Unknown
Capsicum leptopodum — A Rare and Little-Known Wild Chilli Native to Brazil
Capsicum leptopodum is one of the least-known wild species in the Capsicum genus, native to central Brazil, particularly the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso. Officially described in scientific literature by Barboza and colleagues, this species is part of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biome diversity, and is extremely rare in both cultivation and botanical collections.
The name "leptopodum" comes from Greek roots meaning “slender foot,” likely referring to the plant’s slender pedicels (flower stalks). The plant itself grows as a low, shrubby perennial, adapted to savanna-like conditions with well-drained soil and seasonal rainfall.
Its flowers are white to pale greenish, borne singly, and lack the showy markings found in species like C. praetermissum. The fruit is small, red, and ovoid, and while detailed data on pungency is limited, most sources suggest it is mild or non-pungent, possibly lacking capsaicin entirely — a common trait among basal or primitive wild species.
Capsicum leptopodum is scientifically important because it belongs to the most genetically ancient branches of the Capsicum family tree. Its evolutionary distance from domesticated species makes it a valuable candidate for genetic research, particularly in understanding how traits like fruit shape, capsaicin production, and environmental adaptation evolved.
In short, while C. leptopodum won’t be turning up in your kitchen anytime soon, it remains a critical part of the chilli genus’s wild heritage, helping researchers piece together the deep history of the Capsicum lineage.
