Need info on spice, "palillo"

[Bill Williams]

There is a spice used in Peru (and probably other Andean countries)
called "palillo."  It is red, not very strong (used mostly for
coloring, I think, sort of like turmeric), and I've only seen it as
rather coarse granules.  Anybody know what this stuff is, i.e., what
species of plant it comes from?

_______________________________
Bill Williams
bwilliam at oyster.smcm.edu
Dept. of Biology
St. Mary's College of Maryland