Thanks, Madhuri ji, Barry ji, Pankaj ji & Neil ji. Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achiote
*Achiote* (*Bixa orellana*) is a shrub <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub>or small tree <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree> from the tropical region of the American continent <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_continent>. The name derives from the Nahuatl <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuatl> word for the shrub, *achiotl*. It is also known as *Aploppas*, and its original Tupi<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupi>name *urucu*. It is cultivated there and in Southeast Asia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia>, where it was introduced by the Spanish <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain>in the 17th century. It is best known as the source of the natural pigment annatto <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annatto>, produced from the fruit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit>. The plant bears pink flowers and bright red spiny fruits which contain red seeds. The fruits dry and harden to brown capsules. The inedible fruit is harvested for its seeds, which contain annatto, also called *bixin.* It can be extracted by stirring the seeds in water. It is used to color food products, such as cheeses, fish, and salad oil. Sold as a paste or powder for culinary use, mainly as a color, it is known as "achiote," "annatto" or "pimentão doce." It is a main ingredient in the Mexican <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico> spice mixture recado rojo<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recado_rojo>, or "achiote paste." The seeds are ground and used as a subtly flavored and colorful additive in Latin American<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American>, Jamaican <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica> and Filipino cuisine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_cuisine>. Annatto is growing in popularity as a natural alternative to synthetic food coloring <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_coloring> compounds. It is an important ingredient of cochinita pibil<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochinita_pibil>, the spicy pork dish made famous in the film *Once Upon a Time in Mexico<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_Mexico> .* - The achiote has long been used by American Indians<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas>to make body paint, especially for the lips, which is the origin of the plant's nickname, *lipstick tree.* The use of the dye in the hair by men of the Tsáchila <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ts%C3%A1chila> of Ecuador<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador>is the origin of their usual Spanish name, the *Colorados.* - Parts of the plant can be used to make medicinal remedies for such conditions as sunstroke <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunstroke>, tonsilitis <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsilitis>, burns<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn_(injury)>, leprosy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy>, pleurisy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleurisy>, apnoea <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apnoea>, rectal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectum>discomfort, and headaches <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headaches>. - The sap from fruits is also used to treat type 2 diabetes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_diabetes>, and fungal infections. On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 6:38 PM, Neil Soares <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Mr.Garg, > It is the Annotta Tree [Bixa orellana], a native of Tropical America. > Regards, > Neil. > > --- On *Sat, 11/22/08, J.M. Garg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > From: J.M. Garg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [indiantreepix:6064] Tree for Id 221108JM > To: "indiantreepix" <[email protected]> > Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008, 5:41 PM > > On 2/11/08 at Bot. Gardens in Hyderabad, AP. A smallish tree. > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg > "We often ignore the beauty around us" > Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group > (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en > > > > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
