The Botanist's Companion Part 31

572. HUMULUS Lupulus. HOP.--The strobiles are used for dyeing; but although they yield a yellow colour, the princ.i.p.al use is as a mordant.

573. HYPERIc.u.m perforatum. PERFORATED ST. JOHN'S WORT.--The flowers dye a fine yellow.

574. IRIS germanica. GERMAN IRIS.--The juice of the corolla treated with alum makes a good permanent green ink.

575. ISATIS tinctoria. WOAD.--The leaves steeped in water till the parts are decomposed, produces a fine blue fecula, which is made into cakes, and sold to the woollen-dyers. For its culture, see p. 32.

576. LICHEN Roccella. ORCHIL.--The fine purple called orchil is extracted from this moss.

577. LITHOSPERMUM officinale. GROMWELL.--The roots afford a fine red, which is used by the young girls in Sweden to colour their faces.

578. LYCOPODIUM complanatum. CLUB-MOSS.--The juice of this plant extracted by an acid forms a most beautiful yellow.

579. LYCOPUS europaeus. WATER-h.o.r.eHOUND.--The juice of this gives out a black colour, and is sometimes used by the common people for dyeing woollen cloth. The gypsies are said to use the juice of this plant to colour their faces with.

580. LYSIMACHIA vulgaris. LOOSESTRIFE.--The juice of the whole herb is used to dye woollen yellow.

581. MYRICA Gale. SWEET GALE.--The whole shrub tinges woollen of a yellow colour.

582. NYMPHAEA alba. WHITE WATER-LILY.--The Highlanders make a dye with it of a dark chesnut colour.--Light. Fl. Sc.

583. ORIGANUM vulgare. WILD MARJORAM.--The tops and flowers contain a purple colour, but it is not to be fixed.

584. PHYTOLACCA decandra. VIRGINIAN POKEWEED.--The leaves and berries produce a beautiful rose-colour, but it is very fugacious.

585. PRUNUS domestica. PLUM.--The bark is used by the country people to dye cloth yellow.

586. PYRUS Malus. APPLE,-The bark of this plant, also, produces a yellow colour.

587. QUERCUS Robur. OAK.--The juice of the oak mixed with vitriol forms a black ink; the galls ar employed for the same purpose.

588. RESEDA Luteola. DYER'S WEED, or WELD.--The most usual plant from which the yellow dye is extracted. For its culture, see p. 32.

589. RHAMNUS Frangula. BUCKTHORN.--The bark produces a slight yellow, and the unripe berries impart to wool a green colour.

590. RHAMNUS catharticus. PURGING BUCKTHORN.--The bark yields a most beautiful yellow colour; and the ripe berries in the autumn produce a brilliant scarlet.

591. RHUS Cotinus. VENUS'S SUMACH.--The bark of the stalks produces a yellow colour; the bark of the roots produces a red.

592. RHUS coriaria. ELM-LEAVED SUMACH.--This plant is possessed of the same qualities as the one above.

593. RUBIA tinctorum.--The root produces a red colour. For its culture, see p. 32.

594. RUMEX maritima. DOCK.--The whole herb gives out a yellow colour.

595. SALIX pentandra. WILLOW.--The leaves produce a yellow colour.

596. SCABIOSA succisa. DEVIL'S BIT SCABIUS.--The dried leaves produce a yellow colour.