This riddle divides a pepper's growth into three different phases.  Initially, when it is very small, the pepper presents itself as green. Next, the pepper turns red, marking its entrance into the middle stage of growth.  Finally, in the third stage, the pepper's skin will turn dark, and seeds will fall from it. Some assert that this riddle specifically describes the growth of the hua jiao, or Sichuan pepper.  However, other peppers do seem to go through a similar color progression.