Description
Chilli Name: LONGIDENTATUM
Chilli Species: Longidentatum
Chilli Origin: Brazil
Chilli Heat: Unknown
Capsicum longidentatum — A Newly Recognised Wild Chilli from Brazil
Capsicum longidentatum is one of the most recently described wild chilli species, first officially classified in 2019 by Barboza et al., expanding our understanding of Capsicum’s diversity in southeastern Brazil. This species had been known to local botanists for some time but was only recently separated from similar species like C. baccatum and C. mirabile based on its distinct floral and genetic traits.
The name “longidentatum” refers to the long, tooth-like lobes of the calyx (the part of the flower behind the petals), which helps distinguish it from other wild species. The plant grows as a woody shrub or small tree, typically found in shaded forest environments within the Atlantic Forest region of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo.
Its flowers are solitary, white to pale green, and visually less showy than those of other wild species like praetermissum. The fruits are small, red, and fleshy, and while there is limited data on their heat level, they are believed to be mild or non-pungent — suggesting this species may not produce much capsaicin, if any.
Capsicum longidentatum is important not for culinary use but for its genetic distinctiveness. It forms part of the basal clade of the Capsicum family tree, making it a key species for researchers studying the evolution of chillies. Its discovery has helped clarify the relationships between other wild species like C. mirabile, C. recurvatum, and C. villosum.
In short, C. longidentatum is a botanical treasure — a rare forest chilli that plays an important role in our understanding of where the Capsicum genus came from, and how it evolved into the fiery varieties we know today.