Need help identifying pepper

[Farmette]

These pictures are of a plant that is growing at my sister's home in the Hill Country of Texas. It was probably planted by the former owner and is growing in an open area underneath an exposed part of the home. We looked it up and think it might be a Chiltepine, but don't know what variety. It is VERY hot and has very small oblong fruit of about 1/4 inch, maybe a little larger, long and narrower than that. Maybe they are stunted because do not get full sun. Anway, does anyone have a guess as to what these might be. I saw on another thread that Craig did a comparison of bird peppers and I am guessing that bird pepper is a broad category that this might fit into. Would appreciate any help. Thanks! Chris

[kurt]

http://preview.search.aol.com/aol/im...yword_rollover I did some like that years ago looks like a tepin pepper.

[Worth1]

I have one similar that was a seedling from one that was pulled in the woods in Central Texas.
They are native and wild in this part of the country.

If they are where i live they are deciduous farther south they dont die back.
Mine this year and last year didn't die back.
It has withstood temps in the 10F and still came back.

There is a grove of them at a friends place near San Saba Texas that has been there for many many years.

Worth

[Stvrob]

I don't know what its called but I had some of those when I lived in Missouri.

[trout250]

there is a native pepper called a birds eye that looks real similiarr to the pic. called a birds eye because they supposedly won't sprout and grow until they have gone through a birds digestive system. plants are spread by birds in this way, makes really good pepper sauce.

[Farmette]

Thanks for all your replies...I will try to germinate the seeds next yr and see how that goes...they are so small but mighty!

[hdrider]

Originally Posted by kurt

I did some like that years ago looks like a tepin pepper.

I agree with Kurt it looks like the tepin (bird pepper). If it is you wont be able to save seeds, they need to be digested by a bird first, or at least that is what I remember.

They are a fun plant to have in the garden with a sudden blast of heat that dissipates about as fast as it comes on. It wasn't too hot but of course that is only my "chiliehead" opinion. Most of the people that know me say I am nuts the way I eat peppers, I just tell them that the fact I am nuts is beside the point.

[Darren Abbey]

I know that as "chile pequin". It's a local wild pepper species in the Texas hill country, described as Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum. I usually would find it under tree canopies or growing through shrubs, both places where the seeds would be commonly dropped by birds.

The tallest plant I've encountered was close to 15 feet tall. It was living as a vine up the side of a palm tree that had never been trimmed down to wood.

My experience is that the seeds will grow as readily as other peppers.

[Mojave]

Soaking the seeds overnight in a saltpeter solution simulates what would happen in a birds digestive tract and is the way I've always started my tepins and pequins.

[mdvpc]

https://www.google.com/search?q=texa...w=1274&bih=601

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Texas-Bird-Pepper_vq2926.htm

[Farmette]

Mdvpc: Thanks for the links. I think it clearly identifies the pepper I have and that it is known by many names.

As far as germination, I'll have to wait til next near and maybe try the saltpeter thing; although I could do a test and see if fish emulsion works too.

Thanks again for the replies. I knew you guys would know!