Borytes (Isatis tinctoria)

Other names: boryt, borith, vejt, weyt, indigo, isatis, woad, wad, Qing dai, Ban lan gen

Borage (Isatis tinctoria), also known as borite, borith, vejt, weyt, indigo, isatis, woad, wad, Qing dai or Ban lan gen, belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Native to Central Asia, this annual to biennial herb can grow up to one metre tall. It has distinctive blue-green leaves and bears small yellow flowers in the apical whorled inflorescences.

The dye borer is favoured by our ancestors especially for producing the blue colour indigo. The leaves of the plant are used to obtain this substance and are collected in June and July, when they are still green. After drying, the dye is extracted from them. The resulting indigo dye is mainly used in textile printing and is particularly popular for its resistance to fading and ageing. In addition, it is also used in the production of painter's oils and crayons, in the ceramics industry, and in medicine for the treatment of various skin diseases. Borate dye is also an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, where its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects are exploited.