402 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



Annatto is still employed to a fair extent for colouring oils and 

 butter, but is almost extinct as a dyestuff in this country. As the orange- 

 red colour which it yields is extremely fugitive to light, it has at no time 

 been very extensively used. On the other hand, it resists the action of 

 soap and dilute acids very well. 



In order to dye cotton, the annatto is first dissolved in a boiling solu- 

 tion of carbonate of soda, and the goods are then entered and left in 

 the bath for a quarter of an hour. They are subsequently pressed out, 

 and washed in slightly acidulated water or alum solution. 



For silk, the bath is made up with equal parts of annatto and sodium 

 carbonate; soap is also usually added, and the dyeing is continued at 50° 

 for about an hour, according to the shade required. The colour produced 

 can be rendered somewhat more yellow by passing the fabric through a 

 weak solution of tartaric acid. 



Wool is dyed at 80-100° without any addition to the bath. 



The valuable constituent of annatto is bixin (CjgHg^Os), which 

 forms red crystals. 



Bixa orellana is a tree 4 to 6 meters in height. The leaves 

 have a broad base which is more or less heart-shaped, and a 

 pointed apex. They are from 8 to 20 centimeters long and 5 

 to 12 centimeters wide. The flowers are white to pinkish and 

 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter. The capsules are ovoid or 

 somewhat rounded, green to reddish purple, covered with soft 

 prickles, and about 4 centimeters long. They contain many 

 small, dark-red seeds. 



Family COMBRETACEAE 



Genus TERMINALIA 

 TERMINALIA CATAPPA L. TaLISAI. 



A description and figure of this species and its local names 

 are given in the section on resins, gums and oils. 



The leaves of this tree are added to mud in dyeing straw 

 black. The bark yields a brown dye which is seldom used.* 



Family MELASTOMATACEAE 



Genus MEMECYLON 

 MEMECYLON OVATUM Smith. KtJLIS. 



A description of this species and its local names are given 

 in the section on food plants. 



The leaves of this plant are used in mordanting buri straw 

 before dying it with sappanwood.* 



* Miller, H. H., Minier, J. F., Andes, U. S., Muller, T., and Brezina, A., 

 Philippine mats. Philippine Craftsman, Volume 1 (1912). 



