'Pequin' variety, which is the same size as the wild tepin, but is oval-shaped, and delivers a decidedly different experience. The different drying methods used for the tepin and 'Pequin', can help tell these peppers apart. Tepins are always sun-dried, whereas the Pequins are commonly dried over wood smoke, and the smell of the smoke in the Pequins can help separate the two varieties. Pequins are not as hot as chiltepins (only about 30,000–50,000 Scoville units), but they have a much slower and longer-lasting effect. Habitat and range C. a. var. glabriusculum can be found in Texas, Arizona, Louisiana and Florida in the Southern United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. It prefers well-drained soils, such as silty or sandy loams, and of annual precipitation in Puerto Rico. It may be found in areas with a broken forest canopy or disturbed areas that lack tree cover if moisture and soil are favorable. Elsewhere, such as in Arizona, it may require the partial shading of a nurse plant. Symbolism Chiltepin was named "the official native pepper of Texas" in 1997, two years after the jalapeño became the official pepper of Texas. Conservation In 1999, Native Seeds/SEARCH and the United States Forest Service established the Wild Chile Botanical Area in the Coronado National Forest. Located in the Rock Corral Canyon near Tumacacori, Arizona, the preserve protects a large C. a. var. glabriusculum population for study and as a genetic reserve. See also List of Capsicum cultivars Capsicum annuum Capsicum Notes External links Tepin, in What Am I Eating? A Food Dictionary annuum var. glabriusculum Plants described in 1975 Flora of the Bahamas Flora of the Caribbean Flora of Central America Flora of Colombia Flora of Florida Flora of Mexico Flora of Texas Symbols of Texas Chili peppers