Editing Capsicum annuum (section)

== Name ==
The genus name ''Capsicum'' derives from a [[Koine Greek|Greek]]-based derivative of the [[Contemporary Latin|Latin]] word ''capto'', meaning "to grasp, to seize", in reference to the heat or pungency of the species' fruit, although it has also been speculated to derive from the Latin word ''capsa'', "box", referring to the shape of the fruit in forms of the typical species.<ref>{{cite journal |year=2022 |title=Capsicum annuum (bell pepper) |journal=Cabi Compendium |volume=CABI Compendium |doi=10.1079/cabicompendium.15784 |s2cid=253616052 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Although the species name ''annuum'' means "annual" (from the [[Latin]] ''annus'', "year"), the plant is not an [[Annual plant|annual]] but is frost tender.<ref name="rhs2">{{cite web |title=Peppers and chillies |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=664 |access-date=21 Dec 2017 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society}}</ref> In the absence of winter frosts it can survive several seasons and grow into a large, shrubby [[perennial]] herb.<ref name="SpicePages2">{{Cite web |author=Katzer, Gernot |date=May 27, 2008 |title=Paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) |url=http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Caps_ann.html |access-date=December 1, 2012}}</ref>

Common names including the word "pepper" stem from a misconception on the part of [[Europe]]ans taking part in the [[Columbian exchange]]. They mistakenly thought the spicy fruits were a variety of the [[black pepper]] plant, which also has spicy fruit. However, these two plants are not closely related.<ref name="Britannica-2023">{{cite web |date=28 May 2023 |title=Capsicum annuum - Britannica Encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/pepper-plant-Capsicum-genus |website=Britannica}}</ref> Commonly used names for the fruit of ''Capsicum annuum'' in English vary by location and [[cultivar]]. The larger, sweeter cultivars are called "capsicum" in Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |title=Expat baffled by common Aussie supermarket item |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/expat-baffled-by-common-aussie-supermarket-item/news-story/df29d531d18b23261b77a5d424951d46 |website=news.com.au}}</ref> In Great Britain and Ireland, cultivars of the plant are typically discussed in groups of either "sweet" or "hot/chilli" peppers, only rarely providing the specific cultivar.<ref>''[[OxfordDictionaries.com]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100735/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/sweet_pepper ''s.v.'']</ref> In Canada and the United States it is commonplace to provide the cultivar in most instances, for example "[[Bell pepper|bell]]", "[[jalapeño]]", "[[Cayenne pepper|cayenne]]", or "[[Bird's eye chili|bird's eye]]" peppers, to convey differences in taste including sweetness or pungency.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 May 2023 |title=Bell and Chili Peppers |url=https://www.agmrc.org/commodities-products/vegetables/bell-and-chili-peppers |access-date=1 October 2021 |publisher=Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, US Department of Agriculture}}</ref>