> Wow - a post about chile peppers! Seems rare at the moment doesn't it ! > >habs are capsicum chinense (big misnomer since they originate from the > >carribean way) > > I always thought it was because they are shaped like Chinese lanterns. My reading indicates that it was a taxonomical error - viz, the taxonomist 'discovered' all these lovely habs grown by the chinese / asians and thought they must have originated there and named them accordingly. Many books have proffered this line. It's the one that I currently subscribe to. > >aji are capsicum baccatum > > Depends. I believe that "Aji" is a native S. American name for hot > peppers. It can be applied to just about anything Capsicum. Absolutely true. Most of the "Aji" varieties we have available here (Oz) happen to also be c. baccatum so I have simplified the matter. There is no doubt that there are chillis with a common name of 'aji something' that aren't c. baccatum. regards, jr Still love my c. baccatum "Aji yellow". Delicious ! Same with my c. pubescens "Hot Lips". Really looking forward to its second year fruiting...