BIXACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 72. 



BIXA. 



Sepals 5, orbicular, tuberculate at the base, deciduous. Pe- 

 tals 6, obovate, entire. Stamens numerous, distinct : filaments 

 filiform : anthers ovate. Style single, elongated, so compressed 

 at the apex as to be almost ligulate. Capsule 2-valved, valves 

 prickly on the outside, bearing a linear placenta internally along 

 their middle. Seeds 8-10, attached to each placenta, surrounded 

 by a farinaceous coloured pulp. Albumen fleshy. Trees with 

 broad cordate leaves, and dichotomous panicles of large flowers. 

 W. and A. 



224. B. Orellana Linn. sp. 730. DC. prodr. i. 259. Urucu 

 Sloane ii. p. 52. t. 181. f. i. The tropical parts of America, 

 especially near springs and rivulets. (Arnotto.) 



A small tree with a stem 10 or 12 feet high. Leaves cordate pel- 

 tate, taper-pointed, smooth and shining, on long stalks. Flowers in 

 terminal panicles, pale pink; petals oblong, fleshy; stamens very 

 numerous, with roundish purple anthers. Fruit hard, bristly, heart- 

 shaped, 2-valved, many-seeded. Seeds angular, covered with an orange 

 red waxen pulp or pellicle. The latter substance is the arnotto of 

 the shops ; it is separated from the seeds by washing. It is chiefly 

 used for staining cheese, and in the preparation of chocolate ; but was 

 reckoned an antidote to the poison of the manioc or Janipha Manihot. 



Ill 



