What is Indigofer?

Indigofera is a genus of about 700 flowering shrubs, herbs and small trees, originally from Pakistan, but now naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It belongs to the family of pea, Fabaceae. Some types of Indigofera are used to produce a dark blue Indigo dye.

Blue dyes were once rare, and the plants Indigofer , especially i. Tinctoria and i. Some herbs in the family also have use in traditional medicine. Many types of Indigofer are also grown today as ornamental plants.

i. Tinctoria , or true indigo, is one of the first plants used to produce indigo dyes. It is also one of the few sources of commercially available natural dye. i. Tinctoria is also planted as a ground cover because it has the ability to improve the soil. i. tinctoria has pink to fIal flowers. The dye is harvested from the leaves.

i. Suffruticosa or añil grows in tropical and subtropical areas of America, as well as in the Pacific Islands. It often grows in dry, disturbed soil, for example in the fields or by the road. i. Suffruticosa was used to produce Mayan blue, bright blue pigment used by pre -contact meso -American cultures. The chemical aniline, which is used in dyes and rubber and plastic processing, was first isolated from I. suffruticosa and gets its name from the common name of the plant.

i. Australis is one of the southernmost species. It is widespread in South Australia. The plant is popular in Australia because it grows well in different conditions. It also has a beautiful pink to lavender flower that blooms in spring.

While many types indigofera are used to make dark blue dye, stems andLeaves i. Australis are used to create a yellow dye. The leaves of the plant are also used by natives to help catch fish and eel. Crushed leaves are thrown into water and chemicals that release, stunned or kill fish.

i. Articulata is historically used to treat teeth pain. i. Oblongifolia was used for its properties as an anti -inflammatory painkiller, especially in the treatment of snakes and insects. Other species, including i. Aspalthoides and i. Furtruticosa was also appreciated for their anti -inflammatory properties. i. Arrecta has recently been considered in the treatment of pain caused by ulcers.