WOAD. 



333 



Woad Isatis sativa. 



their bodies stained with the colouring matter of 

 this plant. Pliny, in his description of the plant, 

 while he notices its use by the dyers, chiefly dwells 

 upon its medicinal qualities *. 



Woad affords a substantive blue colour, extremely 

 durable and substantial, which may not only be re- 

 duced to many different shades, according to the 

 quantity employed, but is likewise of great use in 

 dyeing and fixing many other colours. 

 * Lib. xx, cap. 7, 



