Anil indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa, Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.º 2 (1768))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: Mill.

Bibliography: Gard. Dict. ed. 8: n.º 2 (1768)

Year: 1768

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Indigofera

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. America

Description

Anil indigo, scientifically known as Indigofera suffruticosa, is a fascinating perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of America, this plant is renowned for its vibrant blue dye, historically used in the textile industry.

Characterized by its bushy appearance, Anil indigo typically displays clusters of bright green, pinnate leaves, which are composed of smaller leaflets. These compound leaves create a lush, verdant foliage that supports the plant’s overall health and dye production. The plant also produces small, pea-like flowers that range in color from pale pink to deep purple, adding to its ornamental value.

Apart from its appealing aesthetics, Anil indigo is most celebrated for the deep blue dye extracted from its leaves. This dye, derived through a process of fermentation, has been utilized for centuries in various cultures, notably in the crafting of traditional textiles and fabrics. Its historical significance includes its role in global trade and cultural exchanges, where it was a highly sought-after commodity.

Anil indigo is relatively straightforward to cultivate, provided it is in a warm, frost-free environment that simulates its native habitat. It thrives in well-drained soil with ample sunlight, and occasional watering ensures its robust growth. Additionally, the plant plays a vital role in the ecosystem by improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, characteristic of the Fabaceae family.

In summary, Indigofera suffruticosa offers both aesthetic and practical benefits. Its rich history and continued use in dye production, combined with its ease of cultivation, make it a valuable addition to gardens and agricultural landscapes, particularly in regions that mirror its tropical and subtropical origins.

Common Names

Eng: anil de pasto, anil indigo, wild indigo
Spa: añil
Deu: mexikanischer indigostrauch
Swe: västindisk indigo
En: Anil indigo, Anil de pasto, Anil-de-Pasto, Wild Indigo, Indigobush, Guatemala Indigo, Indigo Plant, Markham Gungo, Indigo
Ar: عظلم
Zh: 野木藍, 野青树
Fr: Guatemala Indigo, Indigo Sauvage, Indigo, Digo
De: Mexikanischer Indigostrauch, Indigo
Ga: Ainil
Lt: Krūmokšninė indigažolė
Ml: അമരി
Gv: Annyl
Fa: نیل وحشی
Pt: Anil, Indigofera suffruticosa, Anil-dos-tintureiros, Anileiro, Cáa-abi, Cáa-chica, Guajaná-timbé, Índigo
Qu: Tinaku
Es: Añil, Indigofera suffruticosa, Azul, Tinto, Anil de pasto
Sv: Västindisk indigo
Zh-tw: 野木藍
Th: ครามเถื่อน
To: ʻAkauveli
Uz: Indigo yarim buta

Synonyms

• Indigofera uncinata (G.Don)
• Anil tinctoria var. brachycarpa ((DC.) Kuntze)
• Anil tinctoria var. vera (Kuntze)
• Indigofera angolensis (D.Dietr.)
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. polyphylla (DC.)
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. uncinata ((G.Don) Berhaut)
• Indigofera anil var. drepanocarpa (O.Berg)
• Ononis anil (Mill.)
• Indigofera suffruticosa f. obtusifolia (Fawc. & Rendle)
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. canescens ((J.A.Schmidt) Lobin)
• Indigofera anil var. canescens (J.A.Schmidt)
• Anil divaricata ((Jacq.) Kuntze)
• Indigofera cornezuelo (Moc. & Sessé ex DC.)
• Indigofera anil var. polyphylla (DC.)
• Indigofera guatimala (Lunan)
• Indigofera guatimalensis (Moc. & Sessé ex Prain & Baker f.)
• Indigofera argentea var. caerulea (F.M.Bailey)
• Indigofera tinctoria var. brachycarpa (DC.)
• Indigofera suffruticosa subsp. guatimalensis ((Moc. & Sessé ex Prain & Baker f.) de Kort & G.Thijsse)
• Indigofera anil (L.)
• Indigofera micrantha (Desv.)
• Indigofera argentea (Blanco)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Aruba (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Southwest Caribbean (native)
• Texas (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bismarck Archipelago (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Equatorial Guinea (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Gabon (introduced)
• Gambia (introduced)
• Guinea (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Liberia (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maluku (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sierra Leone (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sudan (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Bark

Taken Dec 20, 2021 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (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.

Leaf

Taken Dec 20, 2021 by ZOSMO SIMIAO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Mariama Ndiaye (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2021 by Carosin Jean Pierre (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Hassan (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2022 by laurent00031 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2022 by laurent00031 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Hassan (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2021 by Sébastien TRASBOT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 21, 2022 by M B (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − J.-Y. Meyer (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Forest & Kim Starr (cc-by)

Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Hassan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Hassan (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 20, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:500063-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2971774)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Indigofera suffruticosa Mill.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Growth