2021 Volume 65 Issue 1 Pages 1-9
We conducted an ethnobotanical survey on Capsicum peppers on the islands in Maluku Province, Indonesia to investigate the local nomenclature for, and distribution and usage of, Capsicum peppers. Two species, C. annuum and C. frutescens, are distributed in Maluku Province. A general name for Capsicum peppers on Ambon Island is “cili”, which is probably derived from “chile” in Spanish. However, other general names, which have unknown origins, are used on the other islands. On Buru Island, the C. frutescens cultivar with small fruit that are green when immature (GR type) has a specific local name “arbasina”. Furthermore, many people think that the GR type is native to their region. It is possible that the GR type was the first to be widely distributed across islands in the Pacific region. The GR type is commonly thought to be the spiciest and have a pleasing aroma. Fresh, dried, and salted fruit, as well as fruit soaked in palm vinegar or lime juice are widely used as spices and condiments. Fresh fruit are also added to palm wine or liquor to make it spicier and stronger-tasting. Few people use Capsicum leaves as a vegetable. In terms of medicinal usage, leaves are used to treat boils and swellings, and fruit are applied to wounds. These two remedies are commonly applied throughout Maluku Province. Regarding popular beliefs, fruit are used to stop rain events and for getting rid of snakes from houses or fields.
