RE: [CH] Poisonous Peppers?
Michael Bowers (bowers@elsie.ucdavis.edu)
Tue, 10 Nov 1998 10:16:53 PST
>Does anyone know if there are any members of the Capsicum family that
>are unsuitable for consumption?
>
>I have a few ornamentals here, tasted one, it was nice and hot... and
>so far I survived... ;)
>
>Or are there any other plants that could easily be taken as Capsicums?
This is a question I get asked a lot... there are no poisonous members
of the Capiscum family. Some/many ornaental peppers are sold 'not for
cunsumption'; this may be due to being treated with a systemic pesticide, or it
may just be caution on the part of the wholesaler (I presume the grower would
know better).
There are a few plants sold as 'peppers' that are something else. I
wouldn't think that most are really poisonous, but they may not be really great
for you.
In my experience plants fall in about five catagories:
poisonous - will make you seriously sick or kill you
not poisonous, but don't really do much for you; might make some people
sick
not poisonous, but not really good -- most plants -- they aren't bad
for you, but they don't taste good either
edible, but not tasty
edible, and taste good -- this is most human food
Peppers belong in the last two groups; many ornamentals are in the next to last
group.
Thanks
Mike
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