Bixa
Bixa orellana
Family: Bixaceae
What it is like
An evergreen tree. It grows to 10 m high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and it is intricately branched giving the tree a crown which is spreading and graceful. The leaf stalks are long. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are broad and heart shaped. They taper to the tip and have long leaf stalks. The flowers occur in a branched flower stalk. Several of these occur at the ends of branches. The flowers are open and cup-shaped. They can be pink or purple and 5 cm across. The fruit are hairy or bristly and heart shaped capsules. They are 3 cm long. They have a soft red skin. They can be yellow. When they are ripe they turn brown and split open. The capsules contain many dark red seeds.
The plant is often used for face and body painting. There is only one Bixa species. It has anticancer and antioxidant properties.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It suits hot humid tropical and subtropical climates. It needs a temperature above 16-18°C. It is drought and frost tender. It should be grown in full sunlight. It needs a fertile well drained soil. Seed need soil temperatures of at least 19-24°C to start growing. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level up to about 2,000 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. Bontoc. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Andamans, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Fiji, Galapagos, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexico (country/location of origin), Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The seeds are fried gently and used as a food colouring. It colours butter, margarine, cheese, chocolate. It is ground and used as a spice (Annatto) in South America.
It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Edible parts
Seeds, spice
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. Semi-ripe cuttings are used.
It flowers and fruits throughout the year in Papua New Guinea. Plants grown from cuttings tend to flower at a younger age.
Its other names
Local names
Achiote, Achote, Achuete, Annato Tree, Arnatto, Atsuete, Axiote, Bandenu tape, Bija, Conok sayau, Dieu nhuom, Djambarana, Djanfarana, Duchichiimu puka, Galuga, Hpawng-long-awn, Japhara, Kam tai, Kari, Kesum, Kesumba, Koeswe, Kum-saet, Kunyit jawa, Kura, Latkan, Latkhan, Latpan, Lipstick tree, Lotkon, Maxe, Nteke, Perdu kesumba, Po-thidin, Raktabeja, Rangmale, Rocou, Rocouyer, Roucou, Sendri, Siemphung, Sinduria, Thidin, Tomati-enshee, Tu-hpawng, Urucu, Urucum, Uruku, Vahinamalona, Waiang, Zanzolo-leh
Synonyms
Biza acuminata Bojer; Bixa americana Poir.; Bixa katangensis Delpierre; Bixa odorata Ruiz & Pav. ex G. Don; Bixa orellana Bedd.; Bixa purpurea Sweet; Bixa tinctaria Salisb.; Bixa upatensis Ram Goyena;