Capsicum frutescens or Chilli is a low bushy plant with soft erect stems and small, dark green, glossy leaves.
The small flowers are borne in bundles at the leaf axils (where the leaves meet the stems), are white and appear in early summer.
The flowers turn to fruits that are a variety of shapes from small and ball shaped to larger, elongated and often curved.
Used extensively in cooking they add a hot spiciness, often enhancing the flavours of other ingredients. Ulta-hot varieties are favoured in Mexican, Indian and Thai cuisine for some dishes.
There are a few different varieties available that differ in terms of the shape, size, colour of the fruits as well as their flavour and heat.