Abstract
Dyes are the natural or artificial chemicals used to add colour to materials. Most of the natural dyes are made from plant parts such as leaves, flowers, roots, berries, bark, rhizomes, tubers, shoots, sap and wood. Textile dyeing dates back to the Neolithic period. The present work is the first comprehensive account of the dye yielding plant diversity of Ponmudi hills, a part of Western Ghats being utilised by the Kani tribes including local inhabitants. A survey has been done on the ethnic use of dye yielding plants with its utility values. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxburgh (Fabaceae), Woodfordia furticosa Kurz (Lythraceae), Terminalia paniculata (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae), Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae), Clitoria ternatea Linn. (Fabaceae), Butea monosperma Taub. (Fabaceae), Butea superba Roxb. Ex Willd. (Fabaceae), Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze (Pandanaceae), Carthamus tinctorius L. (Asteraceae), Diospyros paniculata Dalz. (Ebenaceae), Cordia dichotoma Forst. (Boraginaceae), Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn (Oleaceae), Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (Zingiberaceae), Tectona grandis Linn.f (Verbenaceae) and many Osbeckia species such as O. aspera, O. reticulata, O. wynadensis and O. parviflora are the most common dye plants used by the people for multi purposes. The dyeing parts of the plants are used by the ethnic communities for various religious purposes. Further, they are confident regarding the non toxic and eco-friendly nature of the natural dye. However, the indigenous information, practice of extraction and processing of natural dyes has now declined due to readily available cheaper synthetic dyes. It is high time that proper documentation and conservation of this knowledge to conserve these natural dye plants. Osbeckia species being promising in this line, further studies are designed to analyze the major phytochemicals like anthocyanin and its biological characterization.
