Pepper Identification

[Antares]

A few years ago I spotted a interesting hirsute pepper at a local green house. It was labeled (with such originality) "red chili" and the person behind the counter didn't know anything about it. It's the only pepper I had seen that had hairs all over like a tomato. Looking online I see C. Pubescens is known for being hairy, but this one doesn't seem to be pubescens, it has a white flower, not purple. Peppers are hot, small, tapered, hang down, and ripen red. Cross maybe? Any ideas?

Sorry I can't find any pictures of the adult plant from previous years, but here are this years seedlings.

[dmforcier]

Yeah, hairy little bugger. As you say, reminiscent of C.pubescens. But pubes usually have dark stems. Pod isn't like any pube I know. These leaves are similar to C.annuum in shape. Doubt that it's a pube/annuum cross. I don't think they cross well if at all.

Now, C.galapagoense is hairy with annuum-shaped leaves and a non-purple flower. But galaps are quite rare, extremely difficult to start, and IMO completely non-viable commercially.

Check this site for some pics and species ID help: http://pepperdatabase.org/species

[Antares]

Forgot to mention it has yellow seeds, not black. So that rules out some species.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

Now, C.galapagoense is hairy with annuum-shaped leaves and a non-purple flower. But galaps are quite rare, extremely difficult to start, and IMO completely non-viable commercially.

These are very easy to start, usually the first of all my peppers to germinate.

[dmforcier]

Well, I can't personally attest about that C.galapagoense is hard to start, but I've watched friends struggle with them. Did anything in the database help?

I'd suggest a place to get answers from more experienced growers, but it would get me banned.

[Darren Abbey]

Some Serrano chiles I grew years ago were almost that fuzzy.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by Darren Abbey

Some Serrano chiles I grew years ago were almost that fuzzy.

Yes, looking through the GRIN database by the variable "stem pubescence" it seems that there are a few accessions of C. annuum that have this trait.

Like this one: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlo...spx?id=1046951

I probably won't be able to narrow it down to a specific cultivar, but at least I know it's probably not derived from any of the other species, given its traits.

[dmforcier]

Thanks for the link into the GRIN database. I have known that it's there but never spent the time to learn how to use it.

"Hairy annuums", eh? Good to know.

So do you like it well enough to give it a name?

[Antares]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

So do you like it well enough to give it a name?

I like it, it's vigorous and productive. But I just call it 'Hirsute Hot' for my records. That's about as original as "red chili" was to begin with lol.