It is a subject of surprise that the common betel-nut of the East has never been introduced for dyeing purposes.  The roots of the awl tree of Malabar and other parts of India, Morinda citrifolia, and of M. tinctoria, found abundant in all the Asiatic islands, are extensively used as a dye stuff for giving a red color.  It is usually grown as a prop and shade for the pepper vine and coffee tree.  The coloring matter resides principally in the bark of the roots, which are long and slender, and the small pieces are the best, fetching 8s. to 10s. a maund.  It is exported in large quantities from Malabar to Guzerat, and the northern parts of Hindostan, but seldom finds its way to Europe.

The wood and roots of another species, M. umbellata, known in the eastern islands as “Mangkudu,” are used extensively for their red dye, in Celebes and Java.  Specimens of all these, and of the Lopisip bark, bunchong bulu wood, and the gaju gum (from undescribed plants), have been introduced into England.  They are said to furnish excellent dyes in the Asiatic islands.  Native dyes from Arracan have also been imported, viz., thit-tel and the-dan yielding red dyes, ting-nget and reros, affording dark purple dyes; and thit-nan-weng, a chocolate dye.  These would be worth enquiry, and particulars of the plants yielding them, the quantities available, and the prices might be procured.  Dyes and colors from the following plants are obtained in India:  several species of Terminalia, Sinecarpus Anacardium, Myrica Sapide, Nelumbium speciosus, Butea frondosa, and Nyctanthes arboretristis.  The bunkita barring, obtained from an undescribed plant in Borneo, produces a dark purple or black dye.  A species of ruellia, under the name of “Room,” is employed in its raw state by the Khamptis and Lingphos to dye their clothes of a deep blue.  It is described by the late Dr. Griffiths as “a valuable dye, and highly worthy of attention.”  It might, perhaps, be usefully employed as the ground for a black dye.  In Nepaul they use the bark of Photinia dubia or Mespilus Bengalensis for dyeing scarlet.  The bark of the black oak, Quercus tinctoria and its varieties, natives of North America, are used by dyers under the name of quercitron.

In the south of Europe, Daphne Gnidium is used to dye yellow.  The root of reilbon, a sort of madder in Chili, dyes red.  A purple tint or dye is obtained from the bark of an undescribed tree, known under the name of “Grana ponciana,” growing about Quito; and Stevenson (Travels in South America) says, “if known in Europe, it would undoubtedly become an article of commerce.”  Another much more expensive species of coloring matter (red) is obtained in various parts of South America from the leaves of the Bignonia Chica, a climbing evergreen shrub, native of the Orinoco country, with large handsome panicles of flowers.  The coloring substance is obtained by decoction, which deposits, when cool, a red matter; this is formed into cakes and dried.  Dr. Ure thinks it might probably be turned to account in the arts of civilization.  The order of plants to which it belongs, contains a vast number of species, all natives of tropical regions, and their value for the production of coloring substances may be worth investigation.