Native to Central and South America, the small tree has spread to various tropical regions globally. It has a habitat below 8,000 feet in the tropics. It is a source of the natural orange-red condiment annatto, derived from the waxy arils encasing its seeds​​. The seeds inside the red fruit are used for food coloring and spice and are cultivated on a small scale. It is recognized as a promising antimicrobial agent against several microorganisms. Photographed in the Magdalena River Valley, Colombia.