Recalling Darwin, they look similar because they all derive from a common parent. The differences are (theoretically) because they evolved in isolation on different islands.

[This is informed speculation; I have no direct knowledge that it applies to peppers.]

I have two of the peps through The Seed Fairy (PI 639682 and one unnumbered), so I'll be watching the answers to this question. Just how different are the varieties?

Dennis

PI 639682
Species: Galapagoense Origin: Galapagos Islands Heat: Very Hot

This wild variety is one of the worlds rarest peppers, found only in the Galapagos Islands. The plant is slender with distinctive hairy leaves (like Pubescent). The pods are very small, round and mature from green to red.

Some good pics here: http://www.wildchilli.eu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=83

CGN-22208 Galapagoense
Not available
Wild variety native to Galapagos Island of Isabela & Santa Cruz also found in Ecuador. Produces very heavy yield of 0.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide very hot pods mature from dark green to red has miniature white flowers.

From Reimer (out of stock)
GRIF 1567
100+ days. Capsicum galapagoense. Plant produces good yields of very small hot peppers. Peppers are hot and turn from green to red when mature. Plant has green stems, green leaves, and white flowers. This is a very rare variety that is very difficult to grow. United States Department of Agriculture, GRIF 1567. A variety from Indefatigable Island, Galapagos Archipelago, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. pk/5 ($15)

From Rainbow (sold out):
Galapagoense 974750083
Native wild species from Galapagos Islands of Isabela & Santa Cruz also found in Ecuador. Medium tall bushy plant has miniature white flowers, the pods are very hot mature from dark green to red. Pod are miniature 0.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. Very hard to germinate. (5 seeds per pkt)

Also BONN-22303
http://www.wildchilli.eu/forum/viewforum.php?f=25&start=0

Here's a grow diary with pics - variety unspecified.
http://www.chilliesontheweb.co.uk/photo-gallery/c-galapagoense-chilli-2011/

Thanks for the additional web links. Do you know how each got its name? I have another web source that I was looking at see link

Here is a link that might be useful: Galapagos pepper link

Looks like the natural climate is 69 degrees F - 84 degrees F, a warm and dry season and a cool and wet season. High humidity and heavy fog. Not a lot of rain during the wet season and mostly the lower portion of the islands get the rain. Most plants are located at the higher elevation with less rain and more humidity and rely on moisture from the fog to provide water. Possibly why the C. Galapagoense has the tiny hairs covering the whole plant to capture as much water as it can from the atmosphere.

Growing this may take some learning so my plan is to try and give the right conditions

I think I will germinate at room tempurature just about 70 degrees.

Mist with rain water more than watering the roots maybe just mist the plant and soil.

Fertlize often since its used to volcanic rich soil.

Hope for the best.

If anyone has grown with success I would be interested how you germinated and grow. This type of pepper.

Mark

That's interesting, Mark! Everything I read / see regarding Galapagoense tells me that they are difficult to grow, not very productive, sickly looking plants. But those conditions you pointed out are drastically different than what most people grow peppers in. It's no wonder they are sooo sickly looking!! haha!!

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974750083 - Galopagoense
Pods had no heat and not much flavor

This post was edited by smokemaster_2007 on Wed, Jan 2, 13 at 1:29

Smoke nice looking plant too bad it had no heat and lacking in flavor. I hope the CGN 22208 has some heat to it. Looks like you did something right. If you would not mind, how did you germinate, temp, watering, and soil?

Thanks,
Mark

Tsheets, yeah I have heard they are very hard to grow. I hope to get the best advice and give it a shot in the next week or two, its germination time!

Mark

"Also where do these names derive from? Is there a naming source for peppers? A database?"

Hi Mark. Ever been here?

Rick

Here is a link that might be useful: USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)

In addition to the great link Rick submitted, the link below covers some additional naming conventions.

I think everyone would benefit from an ISO convention!

Here is a link that might be useful: Naming conventions

It's in Hydroponics.
No watering schedule etc.
I don't even check PH...I just keep adding fert/water when needed.

I think fresh seeds is the key to trouble free sprouts.
For me they weren't any different to sprout than Annuums.

I think it's the seeds freshness rather than variety that makes some seeds hard to germinate.Especially with wilds.
Still can't get C.Lancealatum to grow...

Rick and Bill thank you for the information provided very much helpful indeed. I will comb through those sites and search them for information.

So looks like the GRIF 1567 amd PI 639682 are one in the same.

Smoke thanks for the information on growing conditions. I read that the C.Lancealatum like moist damp enviorment not sure if thats how to get them to germinate or not. Where is a good source to purchase those bad boys? For the CGN 22208 I have a air dried pod with seeds sent to me from the 2012 season so thats fairly fresh I would think.

Mark

I don't know where to buy seeds.

Started Galapagos seeds today. In the pic are the seeds of one pod and two additional pods next to the seeds. Also planted white Habanero, ghost, and Ghost with stinger. Unfortunately this season I am limited due to a move and I will not transport more than 4 plants in June.

Mark

Here it is in a ziplock bag, I put on the shelf above the DVR as they don't need the 80 degrees to germinate as do the super hots.

Mark

Tsheets,
It's been my experience that the Galapagoense is not hard to grow at all. It is however hard to germinate and for me was hard to get to set pods. I had my plant for two years before it set pods. I moved it around until I found an area that it liked with about 5-6 hours of morning sun. I live in Texas and it gets extremely hot around 1:00 pm. It did best on the south east side if my house. If it lives through this winter, it will have been over wintered 3 years. Once it got to setting pods, it set about 15 or so. It is now quite scraggly but if it survives this winter, I think it'll do quite well!

Here is a link to the timeline of my Galapagoense for those of you that may be interested.

Danny

Here is a link that might be useful: Galapagoense Timeline

This post was edited by reyna1 on Sun, Jan 13, 13 at 12:33

Danny, I am sure your thread is part of why I had the impression of difficulty with those peppers. Taking 2 years to set any fruit at all and a leggy growth pattern just sounds finicky to me.

But, glad you found a spot that they like! :-)

Danny thanks for the pods/seeds, I did try the one pod after removing the seeds and it has nice heat to it. Keep an eye on this post to see how they do. Yesterday was day one so more than likely 13 to go. I do hope that I end up with pods this season. I think it will do great in the spring but may struggle in the summer with 90-100 degree temps, as its natural climate is 69-84 degrees. Good to know about the hours of lighting preferred thanks.

Mark

No further info? I sent you an email. I hope they set fruit for you.

Hi Danny,

Sorry did not see any emails from you. Glad you bumped this thread. I've been trying to germinate every year since, to no avail. After a month nothing germinated. I've tried soil, paper towel in a ziplock bag, and even wet paper towel in a Tupperware container to get humidity up. Just not having the luck with this variety. I've received seeds from three different sources so I know it's not your seeds its me, because all different sources and none sprouted.

Though i I can get other varieties to grow

I'm going to give it another go this year!

Hope you have good success, let me know it goes. I may give it a go again next season but will see.

I think I have a FEW dry pods from my grow/isolated to share.

E mail me,then I'll see what I have.

Mark,

You're not alone, this year was my first try... but I wasn't able to get any to germinate either