Ground Cayenne is collected from the ripe fruits of Capsicum annuum and Capsicum fructescens varieties.  This includes bell peppers, pimentos, paprikas, tabasco peppers, Mexican chili peppers, and others.

Capsicum annuum is an annual plant that grows 20 cm to 100 cm high.  It has solitary leaves and produces hanging flowers that, when pollinated, grow into fruit that can be red, green, yellow, or brown.  Its fruits can vary in size up to 5 cm long and 9 cm thick.

Capsicum annuum

Cayenne's chemical constituents include:

• Capsaicinoids (chief components are capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin)

• Carotinoids

• Flavonoids

• Steroid saponins

Of these, capsaicin has been the focus of most research and is believed to be most responsible for its healing properties.