Chili Pepper (Chilli Pepper, Hot Pepper)

• Common Name: Chili Pepper (Chilli Pepper, Hot Pepper)
• Latin Name: Capiscum spp.
• Family Name: Solanaceae

This plant comes from the same family as tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco and the nightshades, and contains the alkaloid Capsaicin in all parts of the plant (although the highest concentrations are in the seeds and the inner lining of the wall of the pepper).  Capsaicin imparts a hot, bitter taste and is also an irritant to the skin and eyes and to almost every animal except birds, who do not react to Capsaicin and in nature act to disperse the seeds.  While most Chili Peppers have white flowers, there are a few varieties that have purple flowers.

This is a plant to avoid around the tortoise enclosure.