Plant · GBIF taxon 2874863
Lipsticktree
Bixa orellanaAlso known as Achiote, Annatto, Urucum, Roucou
Lipsticktree is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree renowned for its clusters of heart-shaped, bristly seed pods that split open to reveal bright crimson seeds. Pink or white five-petaled blossoms appear at branch tips, attracting diverse bees that vibrate the flowers to release pollen through buzz pollination. Native across the American tropics, it has spread globally through cultivation for its vivid natural carotenoid pigments used in traditional body painting and textiles.
TropicalFloweringCultivated
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil minerals
Predators
- Leafcutter ants
- Spider mites
- Stem-boring beetles
ThreatsDeforestation, land clearing, and competition from invasive plant species
HabitatsLowland tropical rainforests, riverbanks, forest borders, and disturbed clearings
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderMalvales
- FamilyBixaceae
- GenusBixa
- SpeciesBixa orellana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Wild seed pods and fruits have toxic look-alikes; never ingest based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Pod Examination: Look inside split prickly capsules to see the waxy red arils surrounding the seeds.
- Flower Spotting: Check branch tips in early morning when freshly opened pink blooms attract buzzing pollinators.
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Herbivore (c) Biosedbergh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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