A couple of years ago I got seeds through FHE for a pepper called Chile Chicanna which was supposed to be C. frutescens-" tiny potent pepper from ancient Mayan city of Chicanna" Collected as a wild chile. I only grew one plant but it was not a frutescens nor tiny

Chile Chicanna

(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823046.jpg)

(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823047.jpg)




This past year another person listed it and said he got six different varieties and offered what he hoped was the "mother" variety. My seeds came labeled 'Chicanna,Purple' with a note that the writer was very interested in identifying this pepper.

I grew out and got the plant, pods, and flowers he described. The plant was loaded with flowers but only produced two pods, neither of which has ripened yet. I have it inside and am hopefull of more production. The lack of fruiting reminds me of the Ulupica I have been messing with.

Chicanna-Purple
(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823048.jpg)

Flower variation is typical
(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823049.jpg)
(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823050.jpg)


One of two pods
(http://www.pbase.com/chiles400/image/69823051.jpg)

Hi John F,

Ive been doing some work on the database today and your Chicanna-Purple plant reminds me of a variety called PIMENT BEC C'OISEA NOIR documented by Jeff Nekola (formerly of the UWGB). Could this be it?

http://sev.lternet.edu/~jnekola/Heirloom/pepper%20pics/piment_bec_dosier_noir_A.jpg

Mark

Hi Mark

Does look similar but since it is an African American heirloom and mine is Mayan they probably aren't the same.

Very happy to regain access to Jeff's data base. We used to have contact when he was with the university and his pictures were also posted there. He left the university and they removed the data base--at least at the old address. He also left SSE.

John

Looks very much like certain types of "Bolivian Purple Rainbow"... Which, I think, may well be a cross between c.annuum and c.frutescens.