Flowers with white corolla occur singly at the node and are found continuously throughout the season. Fruits are pod-like berries. Immature green fruits turn red or yellow on maturity depending on variety. Seeds are numerous and borne incompact rows on the placenta chiefly at the basal end of the fruits. The small, pungent 'bird pepper' is another variety of C. annuum.
Chillies contain capsicin which is responsible for the hot taste of the fruit.
Origin C. annuum var. Undoubtedly of American origin, pepper is an ancient vegetable like tomato. It is known from prehistoric remains in Peru and widely cultivated in Central and South America. The nomenclature is not uniform. There are many varieties of chilli.