[Sca-cooks] Puritans, was: Canadian Friends

[Terry Decker]

Indigo dye is derived primarily from plants of the genus Indigofera.  The
original source was India hence the name indigo.  Woad isn't a member of the
Indigofera but it does contain indigotin.  Indigo dye production in the
Americas was begun prior to the American Revolution with imported plants.
Check on Elizabeth Lucas of South Carolina, although there may be some
earlier references.

Bear

>> Um. Actually, indigo is an Old-world dye. It's just that woad also
>> contains indigotin, which is the stuff what maketh the dye. Indigo will
>> grow here, quite happily, as will woad, but that doesn't mean it's not an
>> Old-world dyestuff.
>
>That is interesting. Can you give me more reference? I've always been
>given to understand that they were the same family, but that woad was
>the species native to the Old World, and indigo native to the New World.
>
>'Lainie