BIXACEAE

(Annatto family)

According to Mabberley (1997), this family comprises fifteen species in two genera (Cochlospermum Kunth and Amoreuxia Moc. & Sessé) previously classified in their own family (Cochlospermaceae) together with one species in the genus Bixa L., which was formerly (Brummitt 1992) considered to be the only representative of the Bixaceae. They are trees and shrubs found in tropical regions. Most species are xerophytes.

These plants are of dermatological interest principally because certain species yield a dye that can stain the skin. In addition, biting and/or stinging ants that visit Bixa orellana present a dermatological hazard to those who handle the plant in its natural habitat.

Bixa orellana L.

Annatto, Lipstick Tree, Roucou, Achiote, Atole, Létchi Fleur, Roucouyer, Anattostrauch, Orleansstrauch

This species is cultivated for its fruit pulp, which yields the bright orange food dye annatto, otherwise known as annatta, arnotto, achiote, or roucou. Annatto has been used by South American Indians as a red colouring for the body (Corner 1952, Menninger 1967).

Fregert & Hjorth (1969) noted that they had patch tested annatto "as is" in 580 eczema patients but observed no positive test reactions.

The short internodes are frequently inhabited by various stinging and biting ants (Wheeler 1942). The plant bears large extra-floral nectaries that are visited by ants. Bentley (1974) noted that five of the twelve ant species she identified that visit the extra-floral nectaries are quite aggressive.

See also Protium icicariba Marchand, fam. Burseraceae.

Cochlospermum tinctorium Perrier ex A.Rich.

[syn. Maximilianea tinctoria (Perrier ex A.Rich.) Kuntze]

The rootstock yields a yellow dye which is used in Nigeria to colour butter. The dye stains the mouth (Oliver 1961).

References

• Bentley BL (1977) The protective function of ants visiting the extrafloral nectaries of Bixa orellana (Bixaceae). Journal of Ecology 65(1): 27-38 [doi] [url]
• Brummitt RK (1992) Vascular Plant Families and Genera. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens [WorldCat]
• Corner EJH (1952) Wayside Trees of Malaya, 2nd edn, Vol. 1. Singapore: V.C.G. Gatrell, Government Printer [WorldCat] [url] [url-2]
• Fregert S, Hjorth N (1969) Results of standard patch tests with substances abandoned. Contact Dermatitis Newsletter (5): 85-86 [url]
• Mabberley DJ (1997) The Plant-Book. A portable dictionary of the vascular plants. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
• Menninger EA (1967) Fantastic Trees. New York: Viking Press [WorldCat] [url]
• Oliver B (1961) Nigeria's useful plants. Part V. Plants yielding dyes. The Nigerian Field 26(4): 170-180 [doi] [url] [url-2]
• Wheeler WM (1942) Studies on neotropical ant-plants and their ants. Part I. The neotropical ant plants. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoölogy at Harvard College 90(1): 3-154 [url] [url-2]

[ * BoDD Home Page * ][ * Plant Families Index * ]
[ * Top of this document * ]

File format last modified: 01/2025
Content last modified: 02/2025

Copyright ©  1994–2025

0000-0002-2678-0784