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Table 1 Household dyeing plants in Abruzzo, Latium, Marche and Sardinia regions (Italy)

From: Household dyeing plants and traditional uses in some areas of Italy

Binomial name, vernacular name, family, voucher specimen

Part used

Way of use

Use

Colour

Districts, Localities and References

N° Inf.

Allium cepa L. – Cipolla Liliaceae (GU14D)

Leaves or flakes (bulb)

Decoction

To paint Easter eggs

Yellow

Abruzzo (Teramo district) [7]

2

Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. – Auzzano Betulaceae (GU2D)

Bark

Decoction

As a felt dye

Black

Central Latium [6]

1

Anthemis tinctoria L. – Occhio di Bue Compositae (GU4D)

Flower heads

Ptisan

As a dye for fabrics

Yellow

Southern Latium [6]

1

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Sprengel – Ericaceae (GU7D)

Leaves

Decoction

As a dyeing agent and to tan leather

Not referred

Abruzzo (Pacentro) [3]

1

Calamintha nepeta (L.) Savi – Mentucce Labiatae (GU13D)

Aerial part

Decoction

As a dyeing agent

Light green

Abruzzo (Guardiagrele) [3]

1

Capsicum annuum L. Piparioje (Abruzzo)

Leaves

Decoction

As a dye for cloth

Yellow

Abruzzo (Teramo district)[7], southern Marche [4]

2

Solanaceae (GU25D)

 

As above

As above

Green

Abruzzo (Teramo district) [7]

1

Centaurium erythraea Rafn

Plant in bloom

Decoction

Used by shepherds to dye wool

Greenish yellow

Abruzzo (Pacentro) [3]

1

Biondella (Latium) Gentianaceae (GU11D)

As above

Decoction

To bleach hair

Yellow

Abruzzo (Lama dei Peligni, Luco) [3, u.d.]

2

 

As above

Concentrated infusion

As above

Yellow

Latium (Anzio) [6]

1

Daphne gnidium L. Su Truiscu Thymelaeaceae (GU27D)

Stem and leaves, cut into small pieces

Decoction

Plant parts are boiled in water for about 2 hours, adding some alum for a yellow-green shade or lime for a pale yellow. Wool is boiled in the filtered mixture for half an hour. It is left to stand in the covered container till the following day.

Yellow-green and soft-yellow. More intense shades are obtained with older plants

Sardinia (Nule) [5]

2

Euphorbia characias L. Ua Euphorbiaceae (GU8D)

Aerial part

See "use"

It is boiled in a cauldron in moderate doses for not longer than an hour as it is highly toxic (the sharp and irritating smoke, should not be inhaled). Wool is added, boiled for 30' and left to cool in the covered cauldron.

Very persistent off-white

Sardinia (Nule) [5]

2

Fraxinus excelsior L. Frassino Oleaceae (GU17D)

Leaves and walnut husks with ivy leaves (and, if available, berries)

Maceration in water

Used to dye some types of cloth after a day soaking in water. Ivy provides colour and its saponins dissolve the plants dyeing substances in the water and make them more easily absorbed by cloth.

Lasting dark green

Latium (Trevi nel Lazio) [6]

1

Fraxinus ornus L. Ornello Oleaceae (GU18D)

Bark of branches

Decoction

As a wool dye

Greenish-yellow or apple-green

Central Latium [6]

1

Hedera helix L. Ellera Araliaceae (GU1D)

Fruits

Juice

As a dye for clothes (see F. excelsior)

Brown

Latium (Farnese, Trevi nel Lazio) [6]

2

 

Leaves

Decoction

To wash delicate clothes and brighten the colour

 

Abruzzo (Penne)[u.d.], Latium [6]

1

6

Isatis tinctoria L. Cruciferae (GU6D)

Aerial parts

Not referred (N.r.)

As a dyeing agent for cloth

Yellow green

Abruzzo [8]

N.r.

Juglans regia L. Noce

Husks

Maceration/decoction

As a dyeing agent for wool

Black

Sardinia (Nule) [5]

2

Juglandaceae (GU12D)

Roots

Decoction (30–60')

As a dye for clothes

Lasting brown

Latium (Staffoli) [6]

1

 

Leaves, husks

Decoction/Maceration

As above

Brown

Abruzzo (Majella and Teramo districts) [3,7], Latium [6], Marche [2]

10

 

Leaves, husks

Decoction/Maceration

As a dyeing agent for hair (women)

Brown

Abruzzo (Majella district) [3], Southern-CentralLatium [6]

4

Linaria vulgaris Miller Scrophulariaceae (GU24D)

Aerial part

Ptisan

As a dyeing agent for cotton cloth

Yellow

Central Latium [6]

1

Lycopersicon esculentum Miller Pemmadore-Solanaceae (GU26D)

Leaves

Ptisan

As a dye for cloth

Green

Abruzzo (Penna-piedimonte) [3]

1

Matricaria chamomilla L. Capomilla Compositae (GU5D)

Flower heads (1/2 kg -1 kg)

3 hour decoction

To dye wool

Yellow

Abruzzo (Majella district) [3]

1

 

Flowers

Highly concentrated decoction

To bleach hair

Yellow

Abruzzo[3], Latium [6], Marche [u.d.]

6

Morus nigra L. Gelso – Moraceae (GU16D)

Wood

Decoction

To dye wool

Opaque olive-yellow

Latium [6]

1

Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten. Pignolo, Pignocco Liliaceae (GU15D)

Flowery aerial part

Decoction

During Holy Week eggs were boiled with plant parts to make Easter Eggs.

Purplish

Southern-central Marche [4, u.d.]

3

Papaver rhoeas L. Papambre

Petals

Decoction

It was used sometimes to dye fabric.

Red

Abruzzo [3, Latium [6]

2

Papaveraceae (GU19D)

Buds and petals

 

Used as lipstick and rouge

 

Abruzzo [u.d.], Latium [6]

2

Parietaria diffusa Merth. et Koch – Palatana Urticaceae (GU28D)

Aerial part

Ptisan

Used in remarkable quantities to dye hemp sacks or faded green clothes.

Intense green

Abruzzo (Pacentro) [3]

1

Pinus halepensis Miller Pino Pinaceae (GU20D)

Bark

Decoction

To dye fishermen's nets (up to WWII)

Reddish

Marche [4]

1

Populus nigra L. Pioppo Salicaceae (GU23D)

Fresh bark of young branches

Decoction

After one hour boiling, the wool was immersed for a further 30 minutes

Golden yellow

Central Latium [6]

1

Quercus cerris L. Cerro Fagaceae (GU9D)

Bark

Decoction

As a dyeing agent

Very dark

Abruzzo [3]

1

Quercus pubescens Willd. – Cerqua

Bark

Decoction

As a dyeing agent

Very dark

Abruzzo[3,7], Marche [2]

3

Fagaceae (GU10D)

Bark/Galls

Decoction

As a dyeing agent

Very dark

Abruzzo [7]

1

 

Galls

Juice

As ink

Very dark

Marche [2]

1

Rhamnus alaternus L. Su Laru Rhamnaceae (GU21D)

Bark gathered in spring

Decoction

The dried bark is set to boil for an entire day while water is added to compensate for evaporation. In the evening, wool is dipped into the cauldron and sprinkled with ash.

Brown

Sardinia (Nule) [5]

2

Rubia peregrina L. Sa Ruza Rubiaceae (GU22D)

Roots are still used, prefera-bly of plants grown in sunny areas.

See "use"

The woody part is removed from the washed roots. The roots are crushed to a pulp and boiled in water for about 4 hours. Wool is added and left to boil for a further 30'. This procedure results in a pink shade. To obtain a shade between "dark rust" and brown, the wool is placed in a wide container, sprinkled with ash and covered liquid obtained from the decoction. It needs constant and careful stirring.

See "use"

Sardinia (Nule) [5]

2

Sambucus nigra L.

Flowers

Decoction

To dye white doilies

Dark yellow

Latium [6]

1

Zambuco

Fruits

Juice

As a dyeing agent for must

Blackish

Abruzzo [7]

2

Caprifoliaceae (GU3D)

Fruits

Juice

As ink

Blackish

Abruzzo [7], Latium [6], Marche [2]

9

Urtica dioica L.

Root

Ptisan

To dye cloth

Yellow

Latium [6]

1

Ortica Urticaceae (GU29D)

Leaves

Decoction

To paint Easter eggs

Green

Central Marche [2]

1