Annatto
Family Bixaceae
Bixa orellana, annatto (B. orellana 1) (B. orellana 4), is a shrub up to 5 m high, with heart-shaped leaves and large pentamerous pink flowers (B. orellana 5) with numerous stamens in erect terminal panicles. The fruit is a capsule, about 5 cm large, covered with soft spines (B. orellana 2), with numerous seeds, each with a thin vermilion skin (B. orellana 3).
Use
The dye annatto is obtained from the pulp round the seeds by macerating them in water. It contains the carotenoid bixine. This is used chiefly for colouring foodstuffs like butter, margarine, cheese and chocolate, and is also applied in cosmetics. Indians in tropical South America used annatto for decorating their bodies.