The Botanist's Companion, Volume II / Or an Introduction to the Knowledge of Practical Botany, and the Uses of Plants. Either Growing Wild in Great Britain, or Cultivated for the Puroses of Agriculture, Medicine, Rural Oeconomy, or the Arts

by William Salisbury

569. GENISTA tinctoria.—The flowers are in use among the country-people for dyeing cloth yellow.

570. GERANIUM sylvaticum. MOUNTAIN CRANESBILL.—The Icelanders use the flowers of this plant to dye a violet colour.

571. HIERACIUM umbellatum. HAWKWEED.—The whole herb bruised and boiled in water gives out a yellow dye.

572. HUMULUS Lupulus. HOP.—The strobiles are used for dyeing; but although they yield a yellow colour, the principal use is as a mordant.

573. HYPERICUM 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.