Capsicum
a genus of plants of the order Solanaceæ, consisting of annual or biennial plants, bearing membranous pods containing several seeds, noted for their hot, pungent qualities. C. annuum, a native of South America, furnishes the These, as well as the fruits of C. frutescens and other species, are used to form cayenne pepper. this purpose the ripe fruits are in the sun or in an oven, and then ground to powder, which is mixed with a oven, and then large quantity of wheat flour. The mixed powder is then turned into cakes with leaven; these are baked till they become as hard as biscuit, and are then ground and sifted. C. fructus is the fruit of C. fastigiatum, imported from ported from Zanzibar. It is a small, ob- CAPUCHIN MONKEY long, scarlet, membranous pod, divided internally into two or three cells containing numerous flat, white, reniform seeds. It has no odor; its taste is hot and acrid. and acrid. Capsicum fruits are used medicinally, in powder or as a tincture, externally, or as a gargle in cases of malignant sore throat, and internally as a stimulant in cases of impaired digestion .