The Fatalii is a chili pepper of Capsicum chinense

Capsicum chinense

Capsicum chinense , commonly known as "Yellow Lantern Chili", is a species of Chilli Pepper native to The Americas. C. chinense chillies are well-known for their exceptional heat.-Taxonomy:...

that originates in central and southern Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

. It is described to have a fruity, citrus flavor with a searing heat that is comparable to the standard habanero. The Scoville Food Institute lists the Fatalii as the sixth hottest pepper with Scoville units ranging from 125,000 ~ 325,000 units.

Cultivation

The plants grow 20 to 25 inches in height, and plant distance should be about the same. The pendant pods get 2.5 to 3.5 inches long and about 0.75 to 1.5 inches wide. From a pale green, they mature to a bright yellow (there are red Fataliis around as well, but the yellow one is the "real thing.")

Culinary Use

The Fatalii is known for its extreme heat and citrus flavor. As such, it makes for a unique hot sauce that usually comprises other citrus flavors (e.g., lime, lemon). The walls of the peppers are very thin, making it very easy to dry. After drying, the peppers can be used as powders.