Bixa orellana L.

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Bixa orellana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu

Bixa orellana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu

Bixa orellana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names: Annatto (English) Arnotto (English)
Description: Small tree, to 5 m. Leaves alternate, ovate; base cordate; apex acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal panicle. Sepals 5. Petals 5, pink. Fruit a spiny ovoid capsule.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: orellana: pre-Linnaean name
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Native to tropical America. Elsewhere mostly as an ornamental tree and rarely naturalised.
Growth form(s): Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Image last updated: Monday 24 June 2019
Literature:

Biegel, H.M. (1977). Check-list of ornamental plants used in Rhodesian parks and gardens. Rhodesia Agricultural Journal. Research Report No. 3. Page 29.

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 76.

Parker, T. (2023). Common Trees of Mozambique The Tree Press, Austin, Texas, USA Pages 98 - 99. (Includes a picture).

Wild, H. (1960). Bixaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 261.

Other sources of information about Bixa orellana:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Bixa orellana
Flora of the DRC: Bixa orellana
Flora of Mozambique: Bixa orellana
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Bixa orellana
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Bixa orellana

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Bixa orellana
African Plant Database: Bixa orellana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Bixa orellana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Bixa orellana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Bixa orellana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Bixa orellana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Bixa orellana
JSTOR Plant Science: Bixa orellana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Bixa orellana
Plants of the World Online: Bixa orellana
Tropicos: Bixa orellana
Wikipedia: Bixa orellana


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Malawi: Cultivated Plants: Species information: Bixa orellana.
https://www.malawiflora.com/cult/species.php?species_id=164440, retrieved 20 July 2025

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