Pepperoni and Chilis belong to the Capsicum annuum species and are in they come from the nightshade family. Both the plant and the fruit are called pepperoni/chilis, though there are even more names for the fruit to designate the hotness spiciness, size, and even color. The hotness of various pepper cultivars is determined by the amount of capsaicin, which is primarily found in the seeds and the internal membranes.