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CHAPTER XVIL
DYE PLANTS.
This chapter includes the plants giving various dyes from
their flowers, fruits, leaves, stems, or barks. Here are only
mentioned those which are cultivated or grown wild and much
qsed,
36O. Berberis chinensis, Desf., Jap. Megi ; a deciduos
shrub of the order Berberidaceae growing wild in mountains
5-6 fts. high. The branches grow very thickly and are provided
with fine thorns. In spring leaves and then flowers are produced,
being succeeded with red berries which turn black when fully
ripe.
The bark of the stem is nsed for dying.
06 O. b. Evodia glauca, Miq., Jap. Kiwada ; the deep
yeilow bark of this plant (538) is used as a dye and medicine.
361. Isatis japonica, Miq., Jap. Hatokusa ; a biennial
herbaceous plant of the order Cruciferae
introduced from China at
the age of Kyoho. The leaves resemble those of rape, and are
covered with white powder. Late in spring, yellow flowers open
on stalks, and flat
pods are produced. The leaves are used as a
green dye.
362. Pyrus toringo, Sieb., var. incisa, Fr. et Sav., Jap.
Yama-nashi, Dsuuii, Ko-nashi ; a deciduous wild tree of the
order Kosaceae, growing 5-6 fts. and sometimes 20-30 fts.
high.
Lute in spring it bears pink flowers, which are succeeded with
small round red or yellow berries of a strong
bark is used as a yellow dye.
acid taste. The
363. PyrUS, Jap. Odsumi, Su-nashi
y
Kata-nashi ; a
deciduous tree of the order Kosaceae growing wild in mountains
20-30 fts.
high. In the beginning of summer it produces 5
petaled white flowers shaded with pink. They are succeeded with
round and about one inch sized berries which fall off in autumn.
The berries are red and very aciduous, but they can be eaten by
boiling or preserved by drying, being called Sanzashi. The dried