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| Alkanet
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| Alkanna tinctoria |
It is a member of the Borage family Boraginaceae.
Alkanet tinctoria is also known as orchanet, dyer's bugloss , Spanish bugloss or bugloss of Languedoc. Its name is from Spanish alcana, from Arabic al-hena, after henna, (Lawsonia inermis).
Alkanet is grown in the south of France and on the shores of the Levant. Its root yields a fine red colouring matter which has been used as a cloth dye and to tint tinctures, oils, wines, varnishes, etc. It is commonly used today as a food colouring.
It was listed in the 1918 U.S. Dispensatory. [1]
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopędia Britannica. 1911 Britannica
Plants Dyes Food colorings