capsicum

A capsicum, or pepper plant, at La Rioja, Spain.

Any of a group of pepper plants belonging to the nightshade family, native to Central and South America. The different species produce green to red fruits that vary in size. The small ones are used whole to give the hot flavour of chilli, or ground to produce cayenne or red pepper; the large pointed or squarish pods, known as sweet peppers or pimientos (green, red, or yellow peppers), are mild-flavoured and used as a vegetable. (Genus Capsicum, family Solanaceae.)