Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

ANATTO FAMILY (BDLACEAE*)
166. Achiote, anatto Bixa orellana L.*
Achiote, or anatto, a small tree planted for $he
orange-red dye on the seeds, has become naturalized.
It is characterized by : (1) thin ovate leaves
long-pointed at apex, heart-shaped at base, and
lon -petioled; (2 large, showy, pinkish or purplis
% -tinged or w l! itish flowers 1%-2 inches across
the 5 spreading petals, several or few in terminal
clusters; (3) reddish-brown to dark brown,
rounded seed ca sules 1-1s inches long and broad,
densely coverecfwith soft prickles up to 1/4 inch
long; (4) orange sap in the inner bark; and (5)
twigs rlnged at nodes.
A small evergreen tree commonly less than 15
feet high and 4 inches in trunk diameter. The
bark is light brown and smoothish, with many
warty dots (lenticels), or fissured. Inner bark 1s
pinklsh toward outside and orange within, and
often slightly bitter. The twigs are green and
with minute, rusty, reddish-brown scales, becomin
dark brown.
%he alternate leaves have slender petioles 1-3
inches long. Leaf blades are 31/2-71/2 inches long
and 2v24V2 inches broad, thin, wlth minute scales
when youn but becoming hairless or remaining
slightly sca f y on lower surface, green or dark green
on upper surface, and gray to brownish green
beneath.
Flower clusters (panicles) are branched, and
the fragrant flowers are on scaly stalks. There are
5 brownish-green se als about 3/s inch long,
covered with reddish- g rown scales and soon falling;
5 broad, rounded, pinkish or purplish-tinged
or whitish petals about 1 inch long; numerous purplish
stamens about % inch long.; and pistil 4/8
inch long corn osed of bristly 1-ce led ovary, style,
1:
and short 2-10 ed stigma.
Seed capsules are somewhat flattened and split
into 2 parts. There are many angular seeds about
9i6 inch long, with bright orange-red fleshy seed
coat. Flowering mainly in spring and maturing
fruits chiefly in summer.
The sapwood is whitish, and the heartwood
is light brown or yellowish. The wood is soft,
lightwei ht (specific gravity 0.4), porous, weak,
and not f urable.
Commercially important for the omn e-red dye
called anatto. Extracted in the kitchen pi, y boiling
the seeds in cooking fat or oil, anatto is used to
col~r rice, margarine, butter, cheese, sou q and
other foods but adds no flavor. It is a dye P or oils,
varnishes, and cosmetics also. Indlans havo
painted their faces and bodies with this piepent,
which also is reported to give relief from insects.
The conspicuous pinkish flowers and prickly
fruits also make this plant an attractive ornamental,
and the flowers are a source of honey. Ropes
and twine have been made from the fibrous bark
and a gum similar to gum arabic has been obtained
from the branches. It is said that fire can be
started by friction of two pieces of the soft wood.
In some places the seeds and leaves have been employed
in domestic medicine.
Grown around houses and occasionally natumlized
in nearby Ohickets on the coastal plains of
Puerto Rico. Also in Vieques, St. Croix, St.
Thomas, and St. John.
R,\NQE.-Native of continental tro ical America
but spread by cultivation and now g om Mexico
to Argentina and Brazil. Widely planted and
naturalized in tropical and subtropical regions of
the world. Throu h West Indies from Cuba and
Jamaica to Barba f os and Trinidad. Uncommon
in cultivation in southern Florida.
OTHER COBfBXON NA~IEB.-BC~O~~, bija (Puert0
Rico) ; roucou (Virgin Islands) ; achiote, achote
(Spanish) ; bija (Dominican Republic, Cuba,
Venezuela) ; chaya, xayau (Guatemala) ; cuajachote
(El Salvador) ; onoto, onotillo, caituco
(Venezuela) ; shambu (Pm) ; uruc6 (Bolivia,
Argentina) ; anntlto, annatto, anatto-tree (English)
; roucou (Trinidad and Tobago) ; atta (British
Honduras) ; onoto (British Guiana) ; roucou,
roucouyer (Frencli) ; achiot (French Guianrt) ;
rucu, roucou (Dutch West Indies) ; roucou, koesoewee
(Surinam) ; urucii, achiote (Brazil).