Botanical Name - Bixa Orellana

Common Name - Lipstick tree , latkan , rocou , aploppas , annatto , arnotta , bija

Height - Around 2.5 to 7.5 meters

Type - Greenhouse perennial , half hardy tree

Family - Bixaceae

Bixa orellana commonly known as the lipstick tree is both a tropical and a sub tropical shrub.

It can attain a height of up to 2.5 to 7.5 meters and is very popular ornamental around the world.

The inedible fruit of bixa orellana is harvested mainly for its seeds which are used to make the red orange dye named annatto  a very widely used and important food grade natural colorant.

It is also used in confectionery, bakery and dairy industry as well as in cosmetics and leather industry.