C. rhomboideum

Description

This is one of the most disputed species in capsicum. Due to its strange appearance, yellow flowers and lack of pungency, rhomboideum has been thrown in and out of capsicum for decades, depending on what each particular researcher has believed to be fit.

Most recent research by e.g. Hunziker, Barboza & Bianchetti has, however, finally placed this plant officially into genus capsicum.

The plant is strange looking, to say the least. It doesn’t resemble much any other chile plant – confusion has therefore been understandable. Rhomboideum is a relatively big plant with few, very long branches. Leaves growing from those branches are light green, clearly pubescent and unusually round in their shape. The medium-sized leaves stay unusually firmly attached to the plant (C. pubescens shares this trait). Flower is small, bell-shaped and bright yellow. Unusually long calyx teeth emphasize the small size of the clearly depressed, translucent berries which mature from green to white to red. There are only 1-2 seeds in the tiny berry. There is no pungency, but slight, pleasant sweetness is present in ripe fruits.

Rhomboideum can be grown at home rather easily. It is highly pest tolerant and doesn’t require strict conditions. Getting it to bloom and set fruit can, however, be a challenge, as in so many wild capsicums. Blooming nutrients might help. The plant isn’t ugly, if not particularly pretty either, especially outside the blooming season. It takes a lot of space, although mostly upwards. Cold tolerance appears to be at least average.

Categories: Wild chiles , Mild