annuum

Annuum is a Latin epithet used in botanical nomenclature, derived from annuus meaning yearly or annual. In botanical Latin, annuum often signals a growth habit that completes its life cycle within a year or is cultivated as an annual in temperate climates. The epithet appears across many plant genera, reflecting general life-cycle or cultivation assumptions rather than a single trait.

Capsicum annuum is the most widely cultivated pepper species, in the family Solanaceae. It encompasses a broad range of cultivars, from sweet bell peppers to hot chilies such as jalapeño and cayenne, and is grown globally for fresh consumption, processing, and ornamental use. The species is native to the Americas and is a principal source of both produce and flavor varieties.

Plant and fruit characteristics: Capsicum annuum plants are typically herbaceous and can be erect or bushy, with simple, alternate leaves and white flowers. The fruit is a fleshy berry whose size, shape, and color vary by cultivar. Spiciness is determined by capsaicinoids, especially capsaicin, and ranges from mild to hot across cultivars. In temperate regions the species is usually grown as an annual due to frost sensitivity, whereas in tropical or subtropical areas it can behave as a perennial.

Taxonomic notes: Capsicum annuum is a core species within the genus Capsicum and includes both sweet and hot varieties used worldwide in cuisines and food products. The epithet annuum also appears in other plant names, where it similarly denotes an annual habit rather than a specific trait of a single species.