PLANTS USED IN DYES 
Process or Dyrina 
The general process of dyeing among the Chippewa consisted in 
the use of a vegetable substance to secure a color and of a mineral 
substance to “set” it. Porcupine quills were the articles most easily 
dyed, and they retain their color longest. Rushes are the hardest 
material to dye and often require several “dippings” before the 
desired shade can be procured. Yarn and ravelings of blankets were 
among the materials most frequently colored by the Chippewa 
women. Wooden implements were colored by rubbing them with the 
fresh root of the blood-root, producing an orange shade. 
Both plants and tree products were used in dyes. The latter could 
be obtained at any season of the year, and the trees used were com- 
mon trees, so they were usually obtained when needed. An exception 
is the butternut tree, which does not grow in all parts of the Chip- 
pewa country. The inner bark of this is used for black dye, and 
packets of it are taken from one locality to another and kept as care- 
fully as medicinal roots. Whenever a woman sees a plant that she 
may at some time need in making dye she gathers it, dries it, and 
stores it for use. 
List or Puants Usep 1n Dyrs 
Botanical name Common name Part of plant used 
Alnus ineana (L.) Moench__________- INGO) ae _.| Inner bark. 
Betula papyrifera Marsh_-_____._____ White bireh______ Do. 
Coptis trifolia (L.) Salisb__._..._.__- Goldthread ____ ~ ==| Root. 
Cornus stolonifera Michx___________- Red-osier dogwood__| Inner bark. 
Corylus americana Walt_____.....__- Hazela cassette. go8 he Green bur. 
Juglans cinerea L.-_-_-.._.-_-- 5\ Butternite sees = o> Bark and root. 
LAU, 2 Se eee Maple (any variety) _| Rotted wood. 
Juniperusivireiniana l=. -...-.2....|| Cédar-.oo-2.-.._-- Inner bark. 
Lithospermum carolinense (Walt) | Puecoon..--_______- Dried root. 
MacM. 
Prunus americana Marsh-_-__________- Chokecherry_-______] Inner bark. 
Quercus macrocarpa Muhl_______ ____ Burloakeosstes 32. 222 Do. 
Rbsiglabragiee 2 oo Sumscsoseoes se. oe Pulp of | stalk, 
also inner bark. 
Sanguinaria canadensis L____________ Bloodroot. 5. -55..-— Inner bark. 
Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr__________| Hemlock________ 2 Do. 
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