Genipa americana is a primary agent of beauty in the traditions of the Runa and Shuar communities of eastern Ecuador. Its fruit produces a bright black dye that is used as a face paint and hair dye. So beautiful and mysterious is this dye that it is believed to be an agent of creation. In Amazonian Quichua, Zaparo and Shuar origin stories Huituc (Genipa) was once a sensuous human girl. After Huituc and her sister Manduru mature through a series of amorous misadventures they turn into the trees hat impart beauty and mystery to other species: Bixis orellana, the source of red face paint and Genipa americana, the source of black face paint. The two sisters then transform the various beginning time people into various species of plants and animals by painting them various shades of red, reddish brown, and black.