420 
Woad (Isatis Tinctoria). Our common Woad is a biennial plant, 
with a fusiform, fibrous root, Mr. Miller thus describes the cultivated plant, 
which however differs little from the wild one except in luxuriance. The 
lower leaves are of an oblong oval figure, and pretty thick consistence, when 
growing in a proper soil; they are narrow at their base, but broad above, 
and end in obtuse roundish points; are entire on their edges, and of a lucid 
green. The stalks rise near four feet high, dividing into several branches, 
with arrow-shaped leaves, sitting close: the ends of the branches are termi¬ 
nated by small yellow flowers, in very close clusters. The pods are shaped 
like a bird’s tongue, half an inch long, and one-eighth of an inch broad, 
turning black when ripe. It flowers in July, and the seeds ripen the 
beginning of September. 
Mr.. Miller has another species, which he names L dalmatica or dalma- 
tian Woad, from the place of its growth. The lower leaves of this are 
spear-shaped and crenated; those on the stalk very narrow and arrow- 
pointed. The stalks branch more than those of the first sort, and rise higher. 
The flowers are larger, and of a brighter yellow colour. The seed-vessels 
are shorter, and broader at the ends, which are indented. It is probably a 
variety of the common Woad, but no specimen of it occurring in Mr. Miller’s 
herbarium, we cannot speak of it with certainty, 
Dy er’s Woad is a native of several parts of Europe, as on the coast of 
the Baltic and Ocean, by way-sides in Switzerland, &c.*' In England, in 
corn fields and on the borders of them, as at New Barns near Ely, by the 
river Wear near Durham, &c. This makes us suspect that Woad is not an 
aboriginal with us, but has been naturalized by its frequent culture for dying; 
for, according to Linneus at least, it is a maritime plant. Yet if the plant 
which Pliny informs ns the ancient Britons painted their bodies with be 
ours, which is very probable, it must be a native.f 
Woad is much used by dyers for its blue colour, and it is the basis of 
black and many other colours. 
Queen Elisabeth, as Hume words it, took offence at the smell of this 
herb, and issued an edict prohibiting any one to cultivate it. j 
According to Hakluyt, we were dependent upon France for it in §15/6. 
+ 
“i* 
* Linn. f Eng. Lot. 
Hist. ch. xliv. See also Stowe’s Annals. § Voy. 2. 
46. 
