The baccatum species, familiarly termed aji throughout South America, originated either in Bolivia or in Peru and, according to archaeological evidence, was probably domesticated in Peru about 2500 B.C. Extensive baccatum material found at the Huaca Prieta archaeological site shows that the species was gradually improved by the pre-Incan civilizations. The size of the fruit increased and the fruits gradually became nondeciduous and stayed on the plants until they were ripe. There are two wild forms (varieties baccatum and microcarpum) and a domesticated form (variety pendulum). The pods of the domesticated form are diverse in shape and size, ranging from short, pointed pods borne erect, to long, pendant pods resembling those of the New Mexican varieties. The baccatum species is generally distinguished from the other species by the green or tan spots on the corollas, and by the yellow anthers.
The baccata are tall, sometimes reaching five feet, and have multiple stems and an erect habit, occasionally tending toward sprawling. The large, dark green leaves measure up to seven inches long and four inches wide.
The flower corollas are white with distinctive dark green or brown spots; anthers are yellow or tan. The pods usually begin erect and become potent as they mature. Are elongate in shape, and measure three to six inches long and 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide. They usually mature to an orange-red, but yellow and brown colors also appear in some varieties. The pods measure between 30,000 and 50,000 Scoville Heat Units.
The baccatum plantstend to stand out in the garden like small trees. Their growing period is 120 days or more, and the plants can produce forty or more pods.
Aji (generic). Orange-red, 3-5-inch pods, very hot. 'Aji Amarillo'. Bright yellow, 2- to 3-inch pods, very hot. Seed Source: Enchanted Seeds P.O. Box 6087, Las Cruces, NM 88006 (505) 233-3033
Excerpted from The Pepper Garden by Dave DeWitt and Paul W Bosland, 1993, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. ISBN 0-89815-554-1.
