St Mary's College, Sulthan Bathery   /   Plant

Plant Details

Bixa Orellana L.

Shrub/ Small tree. Leaves 7-16 cm, ovate, apex acuminate, base cordate , glossy, glabrous ; lateral nerves 4-5 pairs; petioles 4-7cm ; stipules 5-6mm, acute. Flowers 3-5cm across, in terminal corymbose panicales, pinkish white. Sepals ovate, purple, scaly. Fruit; a capsule, reddish brown, two-valved spiny. Seeds many, red. Fruiting throughout the year.Commercially grown for its red dye.

  • Family: Bixaceae
  • Habit: Shrub to Small tree
  • Habitat: Cultivated, tolerant of poor soils but intolerant of shades
  • Status : Common


Vernacular names

English - Lipstick Tree

Hindi - Latkan

Kannada -Rangamali

Malayalam - Kurannumannal

Tamil - Sappiravirai

Medicinal Uses

System Of Medicines Used In:

* Ayurveda

* Folk medicine

* Homoeopathy

* Siddha