Chilli

*Capsicum*

How to know it

A small bushy plant with glossy pointed leaves, small white flowers, and fruit that ripens from green to red, orange or yellow depending on variety. Grows well in a pot.

What it does

Used in cooking across the entire region. The heat comes from capsaicin, which is concentrated in the white pith rather than the seeds, contrary to what most people believe. It deters mammals but not birds, which is how the seeds get distributed.

Safety

Do not let children taste chilli without a parent knowing. Capsaicin on hands then rubbed into eyes is genuinely painful, so wash hands after handling. The bird point is a lesson, not an invitation to test it.

Two things to do with children

Grow three varieties and compare the fruit by size, shape and colour without tasting anything. Sorting by observable properties works perfectly here.

Explain that birds can eat these and we cannot, then ask why a plant would do that. Older children arrive at seed dispersal on their own and it is a strong moment.