Continued from Page 16Forest said access to the chiltepins will not be restricted, but visitors should be respectful of them and not pick them.
Ali chiltepins used for consumption are harvested from the wild. Attempts at growing the plant commercially have been unsuccessful.
The chiles are harvested either by picking them directly off the plant or by cutting off seed-bearing branches and removing the chiles later.
Nelson said she is unsure how the Plant Came to Arizona, theorizing that the seeds were brought up by humans or intro
duced by birds.
The chiles have been used by Indian women to wean babies off breast milk.
Today's ceremony will include an Indian blessing, along with remarks by Native Seeds/SEARCH directors, including Nelson, the Coronado forest supervisor and ecologist, and by Tewksbury. Samples of dishes featuring the chile will be offered.
Jesus Lopez Jr. is a sciencewriting intern with NASA's Space Grant program at the University of Arizona.
CHILTEPI
0 Condiment,
in salsas.
About the a
a Usually red
ly in the wild.
The oldest I
Found thr(
and South Ainet Caribbean and s The chiltept
about 3 to 4 fe be used as orns The seeds i
pound called t used as an inse topical treatmer It is also used
treatinent for os Sources: Jos
of the Universh Suzanne Nelsot director Seeds/SEARCH; Consumer Rep Drug Reference.