Bixaceae
Encyclopedia
Bixaceae, or the achiote family, is a family
of dicotyledon
ous plant
s. Under the Cronquist system, it was traditionally placed in the order Violales
. However, newer arrangements move it, with some other families previously in the Violales families, into the Malvales
.
Bixaceae includes 3 genera and a total of 25 species, although Cochlospermum is sometimes placed into its own family, Cochlospermaceae
. The best-known of the species in this family is the source of annatto
, the achiote
, which belongs to the type genus of the family.
Although small, this family has the diversity within to include tree
s, herb
s and shrub
s. The plants are bisexual
, and all species have five sepal
s. All plants within the Bixaceae produce a red, orange or yellow latex
.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of dicotyledon
Dicotyledon
The dicotyledons, also known as dicots, are a group of flowering plants whose seed typically has two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. There are around 199,350 species within this group...
ous plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s. Under the Cronquist system, it was traditionally placed in the order Violales
Violales
Violales is a botanical name of an order of flowering plants and takes its name from the included family Violaceae. The name has been used in several systems, although some systems used the name Parietales for similar groupings...
. However, newer arrangements move it, with some other families previously in the Violales families, into the Malvales
Malvales
Malvales are an order of flowering plants. As circumscribed by APG II-system, it includes about 6000 species within nine families. The order is placed in the eurosids II, which are part of the eudicots....
.
Bixaceae includes 3 genera and a total of 25 species, although Cochlospermum is sometimes placed into its own family, Cochlospermaceae
Cochlospermaceae
Cochlospermaceae is a family of two genera and 20-25 species of trees and shrubs. They occur widely throughout the tropical regions of the world, but are curiously absent from Malaysia. Most species in this family are mesophytic or xerophytic, growing primarily in drier climates.Some authorities...
. The best-known of the species in this family is the source of annatto
Annatto
Annatto, sometimes called roucou or achiote, is a derivative of the achiote trees of tropical regions of the Americas, used to produce a yellow to orange food coloring and also as a flavoring...
, the achiote
Achiote
Achiote is a shrub or small tree from the tropical region of the Americas. The name derives from the Nahuatl word for the shrub, achiotl. It is also known as Aploppas, and its original Tupi name urucu. It is cultivated there and in Southeast Asia, where it was introduced by the Spanish in the...
, which belongs to the type genus of the family.
Although small, this family has the diversity within to include tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s and shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s. The plants are bisexual
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
, and all species have five sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s. All plants within the Bixaceae produce a red, orange or yellow latex
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
.