Capsicum pubescens is a plant of the genus Chili Pepper . The species name, pubescens, refers to the hairy leaves of this pepper. The hairiness of the leaves, along with the black seeds, make Capsicum pubescens distinguishable from other Capsicum species. Capsicum pubescens has pungent yellow, orange, red, green or brown fruits.
This species is found primarily in Central and South America, and is known only in cultivation. It is consumed fresh, as a paste, dried, or ground. It is called rocoto (Quechua, rukutu, ruqutu') in Peru and Ecuador, locoto in Bolivia and Argentina (Aymara, luqutu), and in Mexico manzano (Spanish for "apple") pepper for its apple-shaped fruit. Of all the domesticated species in the family Capsicum, it is the least widespread and most genetically distinct.