color

Alkanet

Colors & materials

A red-purple root dye from Alkanna and related borages, used on wood, oil, and cloth. Not madder, and not alkanet as a bare herb dump alone.

Also known as Alkanna · Anchusa

  • Alkanet is used in Medicine.

    Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica lists alkanet / anchusa (ἄγχουσα) root among astringent and coloring drugs used on skin and in compounds. A named alkanet in that handbook, not madder as the neighboring red dye-root and not a bare cosmetics dump alone.

    from Pedanius Dioscorides · De Materia Medica, 1st century CE

    used in · sourced · documented

  • Alkanet is used in Dye.

    Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica notes alkanet / anchusa root among materials that impart red color to oils, waxes, and related craft preparations. A named alkanet dye use in that handbook, not alkanet-medicine-dioscorides as the drug seat and not madder-dye-pliny as a different root.

    from Pedanius Dioscorides · De Materia Medica, 1st century CE

    used in · sourced · documented

sources