Occurrence (Special Areas) :
Indroda Park, Ayurvedic Udyan, Aranya Van
About Bixa orellana Plant :
Habit : A small evergreen tree.
Leaves : Ovate, acute or acuminate, truncate or subcordate at the base, glabrous on both surfaces, petioles 2-3 inches long.
Inflorescence : Panicles
Flowers :
2 inches in diameter, in terminal panicles, pedicels pubescent.
Sepals 5, two smaller concave, three larger oblong or suborbicular.
Petals white or pink, obovate.
Fruit : Capsules ovoid or subglobose, clothed with long soft prickles.
Seed : Trigonous, rounded and grooved on the back, covered with a red pulp.
Flowering and Fruiting Time : August-September
Significance : The pulp surrounding seeds, known in commerce as "Arnatto", is used in dyeing silk and is largely employed for giving cloths a temporary dye during certain native festivals.
