Sindoor Plant : Planting
The Prime Minister of India marked World Environment Day by planting a Sindoor sapling at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi.
- Sindoor plant, or Bixa orellana, is a small tropical shrub and is famous for its bright red seeds.
- It’s commonly called the ‘Annatto’ in English and the Sindoor plant in Hindi.
- The fruits of the Bixa are globular, ovoid capsules arranged in clusters resembling spiky looking red-brown seed pods covered in soft spines.
- It is a plant native to Brazil but grows in other regions of South and Central America. It is grown in tropical countries such as Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Kenya, and East Africa.
- It requires a frost-free, warm, humid climate and a sunny location so full direct sunlight for its growth and development will be most suitable.
- It grows on almost any type of soil, with a preference for neutral to slightly alkaline soils.
- The seeds of this plant produce one of the dyes most frequently used worldwide, not only in food products but also in the textile, paint, and cosmetic industries.
- Its extracts are also used as an industrial food colouring to add yellow or orange color to many products such as cheese, butter, margarine, ice creams, meats, and condiments.
