Cultivation and use of Isatis tinctoria L. (Brassicaceae) in Southern Italy

Abstract

Isatis tinctoria L. (Brassicaceae), commonly known as woad, is a biennial species with erect stem, hastate leaves, and yellow flowers clustered in racemes. Fruits are pendulous siliques. This species, probably indigenous of southeastern Asia, was used for the extraction of a dyeing agent called 'indigo' Woad was introduced in ancient times in Italy and the first records of its cultivation date back to the Roman period. For many centuries, woad cultivation remained stable, but grew dramatically in the eighteenth century. In that century, the Societa Economiche established by Bourbons encouraged the cultivation of it in Southern Italy. Near Caserta, in Campania region (Italy), a factory for the extraction of dyeing agents was established and the dye was used in textile production in San Leucio (Caserta). The cultivation of I. tinctoria is abandoned today, although this species grows spontaneously as a weed in Italy. The authors discuss the history of woad and some ancient extractive and dyeing methods.