Family: Brassicaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. pl. 2:670. 1753
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Isatis
Vegetable: False
Observations: SE. & E. Europe
Description
Dyer’s woad, scientifically known as Isatis tinctoria, is a notable member of the Brassicaceae family. This hardy plant is originally native to Southeastern and Eastern Europe, flourishing in a wide range of environmental conditions. Dyer’s woad has a storied history, dating back to its early classification in 1753, when it was formally identified in the work “Species Plantarum” by eminent botanist Carl Linnaeus, commonly referred to as “L.”
The plant is easily recognizable by its upright growth habit and distinctive, elongated bluish-green leaves. It often blooms with clusters of small yellow flowers, which eventually give way to its signature seed pods. These pods and leaves have been of particular interest historically due to the plant’s use in dye production. Long before the advent of synthetic dyes, Isatis tinctoria was cultivated extensively for the production of a blue dye called indigo, which was pivotal in textiles and fabric coloring.
While it was once a cornerstone of dyeing practices in European regions, the spread of more efficient dye sources has relegated Dyer’s woad largely to a historical footnote. However, it still garners interest from botanists and historians alike. Ecologically, the plant is known to be quite resilient, often thriving in marginal soils where other species might struggle.
Dyer’s woad can sometimes be considered a weed due to its vigorous growth and ability to outcompete other flora, particularly in ecosystems where it is not native. Nonetheless, its profound impact on agriculture and historical importance as a dye plant ensures that it remains a subject of interest in both botanical and historical realms.
Common Names
Swe: berggran, kaskadgran, nordmannsgran, pichtagran, vejde, värimorsinko
Lit: dažinė mėlžolė
Eng: dyer’s woad, woad, asp-of-jerusalem
Dan: farve-vajd, klippe-ædelgran, nobilis, nordmannsgran, sibirisk ædelgran
Deu: färber-waid, färberwaid
Fra: guède, pastel des teinturiers, pastel, teinturière
Ces: farbovník oby
Spa: hierba pastel
Lav: kr
Por: pastel-dos-tintureiros
Nob: vaid
Nno: vaid
Fin: värimorsinko
Nld: wede
Sme: indigonávrraš
Cym: glas, glasddu, glaslys, gweddlys, llasarllys, lliwiog las, lliwlys, llysarllys, llysiau lliw, llysiau’r lliw
En: Dyer’s woad, Woad, DYERS WOAD, Asp-of-Jerusalem
Ar: وسمة الصباغين
Az: Boyaq çüyütotu
Eu: Urdinbelar
Be: Вайда фарбавальная
Ca: Herba del pastell
Zh: Song lan, 菘蓝
Kw: Liwles
Hr: Ličilarski vrbovnik
Cs: Boryt barvířský, Farbovník oby
Da: Farvevajd, Farve-vajd, Klippe-ædelgran, Nobilis, Nordmannsgran, Sibirisk ædelgran
Nl: Wede
Et: Harilik sinerõigas
Fi: Värimorsinko
Fr: Pastel des teinturiers, Teinturière, Pastel, Guède, Herbe de saint Philippe
De: Färberwaid, Färber-Waid
Hu: Festő csülleng
It: Glasto comune, Guado
Kk: Boyawlı ïsat, Бояулы исат, بوياۋلى ىيسات
Ko: Daecheong, 대청
Lv: Kr
Lt: Dažinė mėlžolė
Se: Indigonávrraš
No: Vaid
Nb: Vaid
Nn: Vaid
Oc: Pastèl
Fa: وسمه
Pl: Urzet barwierski
Pt: Pastel-dos-tintureiros, Pastel
Ru: Вайда красильная
Sk: Farbovník obyčajný
Es: Hierba pastel, Añíl, Glasto, Isátide, Noiglo
Sv: Vejde, Berggran, Kaskadgran, Nordmannsgran, Pichtagran, Värimorsinko
Zh-tw: 菘藍
Zh-hant: 菘藍
Tr: Çivit otu
Wa: Waisse
Cy: Llysiau lliw, Glas, Glasddu, Glaslys, Gweddlys, Llasarllys, Lliwiog Las, Lliwlys, Llysarllys, Llysiau’r Lliw
Synonyms
- Isatis tinctoria var. pastoris (Sennen)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Greece (native)
- Italy (native)
- Krym (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Afghanistan (introduced)
- Algeria (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Corse (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Inner Mongolia (introduced)
- Iraq (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Kirgizstan (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Manchuria (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Mongolia (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Morocco (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- Nevada (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Peru (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Portugal (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Tibet (introduced)
- Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
- Xinjiang (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Apr 1, 2022 by Sans Attaches (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 6, 2021 by Simon Ramon (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 13, 2019 by Jean Burger (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken May 28, 2019 by pascal peyrache (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 29, 2020 by Dominique de Lignieres (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 15, 2021 by Jérémy de Durance (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 26, 2021 by Dominic Anthamatten (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 26, 2019 by Alain Aldegheri (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jan 28, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 28, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 28, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 27, 2020 by Alexandre Valette (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 7, 2017 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 30, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 30, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie-France PETIBON (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 5, 2021 by manulav (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 12, 2021 by Peyrine Macary (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken May 27, 2021 by Miguel A. García (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 6, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 27, 2019 by Gunter Stik (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 25, 2019 by Giulia Marzia Bordacconi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Marie PAGNIER (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 28, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 13, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5374118)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:285873-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Isatis tinctoria L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 8.0
Ph minimum: 7.5
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Soil nutriments: 4