
The present study deals with the foliar characteristics of two varieties of C. annum (Danjarawa and Nsukka Yellow) and two of C. frutescens (Langalanga and Tatashi) common in Nigeria. Significant epidermal characteristics that could contribute to the taxonomy of the genus Capsicum have been revealed. These include the presence of stomata on the upper epidermis of C. annum varieties and the straight walled upper epidermis of C. annum var. Nsukka Yellow. Equally, important was the presence of a single mesogene cell in the two varieties of C. frutescens. The relevance of these observations has been discussed in relation to the taxonomy of these taxa.