Capsicum annuum

Capsicum annuum, commonly known as chilli and called Miris in Sinhala, is a shrubby herb of the family Solanaceae grown widely across Sri Lanka for its edible fruit. It is not found growing wild on the island and exists only under cultivation.

What does Capsicum annuum look like?

This is a shrubby herb standing 60-150 cm tall, with angular stems. The leaves are borne solitary or in pairs, measuring 2-10 cm long and 1-4 cm wide, on petioles 0.5-3 cm long. Flowers are usually solitary and hang pendent, especially once fruit has set, with lanceolate corolla lobes about 4 mm long.

The fruit is also pendent, around 5 cm long, starting yellow and turning reddish as it ripens. Its seeds are smooth, 3-5 mm in diameter, and yellow in colour.

Where does Capsicum annuum grow in Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka, Capsicum annuum is recorded only under cultivation, grown as a crop rather than occurring naturally in the wild. Plants in the Solanaceae family are typically herbs, shrubs, or small trees found across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, and chilli itself is believed to have originated in the Americas before becoming a widely cultivated crop across Sri Lanka and much of the tropics.

What is it called in Sinhala and Sanskrit?

The Sinhala name for this plant is Miris. In Sanskrit it is known as Raktamaricha and Katuvira. The English common name is chilli.

Which part of the plant is used?

The fruit is the edible part of Capsicum annuum, consistent with its widespread use as a culinary spice in Sri Lankan and global cooking.

Recorded facts at a glance