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Bixa orellana L.
| Family Name: | Bixaceae |
| Synonyms: | Bixa arborea |
| Common Name: | Anatto, Lipstick Tree, Achiote, Lipstick Plant, Kesumba, Jarak Belanda, Annato Dye Plant, Kunyit Jawa, Kesumba Keling, 红木, 胭脂树 |
Bixa orellana, commonly known as Anatto or Lipstick Tree is an evergreen shrub to a small tree that boasts beautiful pink star-shaped flowers and scarlet rambutan-like fruit. The red-orange pigment from the pulp is used as food colourant or for commercial dye!
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Open |
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large shrub to a small tree that usually grows up to 6 m tall, but can reach up to 8 m. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Light to dark brown, smooth but sometimes fissured. |
| Roots | Taproot |
| Foliage | Leaf blades are deep green on the upper side, pale green on the underside; cordate to triangular with 5 palmately veined. The leaf has cordate base and acuminate tip with entire margin. |
| Flowers | Pink, star-shaped flowers are composed of 5 obovate petals and numerous stamens. They occur in small clusters near the branch tips. |
| Fruit | Bright red fruits are egg-shaped and bristly, resembling rambutans. The seeds are wrapped in orange-red, creamy tissue known as arils. Fruits eventually turn brown before splitting open. |
| Cultivation | Plant grows on almost all soil types, including poor soils but not shade. It can grow larger when provided with soil rich in organic matter. Transplant seedlings when they reach about 20 cm tall. It is best to provide a planting distance of 3m by 3m for best growth. Prune occasionally to maintain plant at desirable height. |
| Etymology | The common name Achiote is dervied from the Nahuatl word (a Mexican dialect) for the species which is "achiotl." |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb and Spice) Medicinal: Mixture of red pulp and oil can be apply to skin to help in healing of minor wounds and burns, prevents scaring and blisters. Leaves are used to treat fever, snake bite, sore throat, dysentery and leprosy. The roots are used as a purgative and the root bark are used as antipyretic and antiperiodic in Philippines. Others: The red-orange dye obtained from the pulp are commonly used for coloring rice, cheeses, soft drinks, and soup. The dye is also used to dye textiles in some regions. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | Is commonly planted for its ornamental flowers and reddish fruits along the wayside and small garden. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits |
| Landscape Uses | General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Human)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Fertile Loamy Soils, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Transplanting Tolerance | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Pruning | Prune occasionally to maintain plant at desirable height and increase yield of fruits. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
| Planting Distance | 3 m |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 8 days to 10 days |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Cordate) |
| Foliar Venation | Palmate |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cordate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Bristly |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Red |
References
| References | Polunin, Ivan. 2010. Plants and Flowers of Singapore. Malaysia: Marshall Cavendish Editions . |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 431 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1727 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
