Dayflower blue - Revision history

MDerrick: /* Colorant Extraction */

2025-09-08T15:12:51Z

Colorant Extraction

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:12, 8 September 2025
Line 23:		Line 23:

	==Colorant Extraction==		==Colorant Extraction==
	The ~~small, short-lived~~, blue ~~petals are collected~~, ~~crushed, then washed~~ to ~~release~~ the ~~colorant~~ that ~~is traditionally used in Japan for painting~~ and ~~printing~~. The ~~primary blue colorant~~, ~~commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals~~ in water~~. To preserve the color~~, it is ~~absorbed~~ onto thin absorbent paper (e.g., Japanese Kozo paper), then kept in a dry, dark location. The ~~plant's chlorophyll should~~ be ~~kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color. The blue color is~~ water~~-soluble and light sensitive~~.		The traditional Japanese method for extracting the colorant from the dayflower petals is grind them into a paste, then slowly add water to form a vivid blue liquid, followed by filtration to remove the solid plant material. This process isolates the commelinin, a metalloanthocyanin that consists of anthocyanin molecules and magnesium ions, which together create the vibrant blue color. The delicate, water-soluble pigment not stable and will begin to turn brown within a day if left in water, thus it is captured onto a thin absorbent paper (e.g., Japanese Kozo paper), then kept in a dry, dark location. The resulting dried paper, called aobanagami or aigami, effectively stabilizes the dye, which can be re-liquified for use by adding water.

	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==

MicheleDerrick: /* Description */

2025-09-04T20:43:43Z

Description

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 4 September 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:
	== Description ==		== Description ==
	[[File:dayflower blue.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:dayflower blue.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]
	A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a hardy, herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. The plant ~~is considered invasive in~~ the ~~United States and it is resistant~~ to ~~many herbicides~~.		A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a hardy, herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. For centuries, Japanese farmers raised dayflowers as a crop and harvested the tiny blue petals to make blue dye. Called 'dewflowers' presumably because the flowers were picked just after dawn when the dew was still on them, the blue petals are crushed, then washed to release the colorant. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals in water. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color.

	~~For centuries, Japanese farmers raised dayflowers as a crop~~ and ~~harvested the tiny blue petals~~ to ~~make blue dye~~. ~~Called~~ '~~dewflowers~~' presumably because the flowers were picked just after dawn when the dew was still on them, the blue petals are crushed, then washed to release the colorant. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (~~such as ethanol or isopropyl~~) ~~or by boiling the petals in water. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color.~~		The plant is considered invasive in the United States and it is resistant to many herbicides.

			* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]

	* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]
	== Synonyms and Related Terms ==		== Synonyms and Related Terms ==

MDerrick at 18:48, 2 September 2025

2025-09-02T18:48:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:48, 2 September 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:

	tsuyukusa (Jap.); aigami (Jap.); commelinin; ''Commelina communis'' (Asiatic dayflower); ''Commelina virginica'' (Virginia dayflower); mouse ears		tsuyukusa (Jap.); aigami (Jap.); commelinin; ''Commelina communis'' (Asiatic dayflower); ''Commelina virginica'' (Virginia dayflower); mouse ears

	[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]
			[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]
	== Physical and Chemical Properties ==		== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
	* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)		* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)
Line 20:		Line 20:
	* The dye is water-soluble		* The dye is water-soluble
	* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.		* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	~~[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]~~

	==Colorant Extraction==		==Colorant Extraction==

MDerrick at 18:46, 2 September 2025

2025-09-02T18:46:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:46, 2 September 2025
Line 21:		Line 21:
	* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.		* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]

	==Colorant Extraction==		==Colorant Extraction==
			The small, short-lived, blue petals are collected, crushed, then washed to release the colorant that is traditionally used in Japan for painting and printing. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals in water. To preserve the color, it is absorbed onto thin absorbent paper (e.g., Japanese Kozo paper), then kept in a dry, dark location. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color. The blue color is water-soluble and light sensitive.

	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==

MDerrick at 18:38, 2 September 2025

2025-09-02T18:38:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 2 September 2025
Line 21:		Line 21:
	* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.		* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]
			==Colorant Extraction==

	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==
	* L. Young, 'How the Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]		* L. Young, 'How the Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]

MDerrick at 15:45, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T15:45:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:45, 30 August 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a hardy, herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. The plant is considered invasive in the United States and it is resistant to many herbicides.		A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a hardy, herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. The plant is considered invasive in the United States and it is resistant to many herbicides.

	For centuries, Japanese farmers raised dayflowers as a crop and harvested ~~these~~ tiny blue petals to make blue dye. ~~They called the plant~~ 'dewflowers' presumably because ~~they had to pick~~ the flowers ~~in the early morning~~ just after dawn when the dew was still on them~~. They~~ crushed ~~the flowers~~ to ~~squeeze out~~ the ~~blue~~. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals in water. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color.		For centuries, Japanese farmers raised dayflowers as a crop and harvested the tiny blue petals to make blue dye. Called 'dewflowers' presumably because the flowers were picked just after dawn when the dew was still on them, the blue petals are crushed, then washed to release the colorant. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals in water. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color.

	* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]		* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]

MDerrick at 14:16, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T14:16:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:16, 30 August 2025
Line 12:		Line 12:

	[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]

	== Physical and Chemical Properties ==		== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
	* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)		* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)
Line 22:		Line 21:
	* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.		* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]

	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==
	* L. Young, 'How the Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]		* L. Young, 'How the Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]

MDerrick at 14:16, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T14:16:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:16, 30 August 2025
Line 12:		Line 12:

	[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]

	== Physical and Chemical Properties ==		== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
	* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)		* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)
Line 21:		Line 22:
	* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.		* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]

	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==
	* L. Young, 'How the ~~Humbe~~ Asiatic Dayflower Revealed ~~CLues~~ to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]		* L. Young, 'How the Humble Asiatic Dayflower Revealed Clues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]
	* S.Shimoyama, Y.Noda, S.Katshuhara, "Non-Destructive Analysis of Ukiyo-E Prints" ''Dyes in History and Archaeology'', No.15, Paper presented in Manchester England, Nov. 1996.		* S.Shimoyama, Y.Noda, S.Katshuhara, "Non-Destructive Analysis of Ukiyo-E Prints" ''Dyes in History and Archaeology'', No.15, Paper presented in Manchester England, Nov. 1996.
	* R.Feller, M.Curran, C.Bailie, 'Identification of Traditional Organic Colorants Employed in Japanese Prints and Determination of their Rates of Fading', ''Japanese Woodblock Prints'', Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, 1984		* R.Feller, M.Curran, C.Bailie, 'Identification of Traditional Organic Colorants Employed in Japanese Prints and Determination of their Rates of Fading', ''Japanese Woodblock Prints'', Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, 1984

MDerrick at 14:15, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T14:15:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:15, 30 August 2025
Line 22:		Line 22:
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]
	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==
			* L. Young, 'How the Humbe Asiatic Dayflower Revealed CLues to Blue Hues' Science Friday, 2021 [https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/dayflower-blue-chemistry/ Dayflower Blue Chemistry]
	* S.Shimoyama, Y.Noda, S.Katshuhara, "Non-Destructive Analysis of Ukiyo-E Prints" ''Dyes in History and Archaeology'', No.15, Paper presented in Manchester England, Nov. 1996.		* S.Shimoyama, Y.Noda, S.Katshuhara, "Non-Destructive Analysis of Ukiyo-E Prints" ''Dyes in History and Archaeology'', No.15, Paper presented in Manchester England, Nov. 1996.

	* R.Feller, M.Curran, C.Bailie, 'Identification of Traditional Organic Colorants Employed in Japanese Prints and Determination of their Rates of Fading', ''Japanese Woodblock Prints'', Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, 1984		* R.Feller, M.Curran, C.Bailie, 'Identification of Traditional Organic Colorants Employed in Japanese Prints and Determination of their Rates of Fading', ''Japanese Woodblock Prints'', Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, 1984

	* Shiho Sasaki, Elizabeth I. Coombs, 'Dayflower blue: its appearance and lightfastness in traditional Japanese prints' in "Scientific research on the pictorial arts of Asia:proceedings of the second Forbes Symposium at the Freer Gallery of Art, 2005" [https://aata.getty.edu/permalink/f/1kjitv/GETTY_AATA107225 AATA Getty]		* Shiho Sasaki, Elizabeth I. Coombs, 'Dayflower blue: its appearance and lightfastness in traditional Japanese prints' in "Scientific research on the pictorial arts of Asia:proceedings of the second Forbes Symposium at the Freer Gallery of Art, 2005" [https://aata.getty.edu/permalink/f/1kjitv/GETTY_AATA107225 AATA Getty]

	* Missouri Department of Conservation: [https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/common-dayflower Common Dayflower]		* Missouri Department of Conservation: [https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/common-dayflower Common Dayflower]

MDerrick at 14:14, 30 August 2025

2025-08-30T14:14:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:14, 30 August 2025
Line 2:		Line 2:
	== Description ==		== Description ==
	[[File:dayflower blue.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:dayflower blue.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]
	A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. The plant is considered invasive in the United States and it is resistant to many herbicides. The blue colorant in the ~~dayflower~~ blue ~~dye is primarily commelinin~~.		A blue dye extracted from the petals of the ''Commelina communis'' lily plant native to Asia. Dayflower is a hardy, herbaceous annual plant that sprawls along the ground like a vine, often rooting at the nodes. The flowers bloom only for a day, emerging one at a time. The plant is considered invasive in the United States and it is resistant to many herbicides.

			For centuries, Japanese farmers raised dayflowers as a crop and harvested these tiny blue petals to make blue dye. They called the plant 'dewflowers' presumably because they had to pick the flowers in the early morning just after dawn when the dew was still on them. They crushed the flowers to squeeze out the blue. The primary blue colorant, commelinin, can be extracted more efficiently in alcohol (such as ethanol or isopropyl) or by boiling the petals in water. The plant's chlorophyll should be kept away from the blue pigment to prevent a muddy brown color.

	* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]		* See also [[https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:Uemura_dye_archive '''Uemera Dye Archive''' (Tsuki kusa)]]
Line 11:		Line 13:
	[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]		[[File:Dayflower blue_dyed paper2.jpg\|thumb\|Paper dyed with dayflower blue]]
	== Physical and Chemical Properties ==		== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
			* Flowers contain commelinin, an anthocyanin complexed with magnesium ions (metalloanthocyanin)
	* Leaves = alternate, narrowly ovate to lance-shaped		* Leaves = alternate, narrowly ovate to lance-shaped
	* Stamens = 3 on short stems (sterile) and 3 on long stems producing pollen		* Stamens = 3 on short stems (sterile) and 3 on long stems producing pollen
	* Blooms = May-October		* Blooms = May-October
	* ~~ISO R105 Lightfastness Classification =~~		* The pH of the extraction liquid affects the color.
			* The dye is water-soluble
			* The color fades with exposure to light and moisture.
	[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]		[[[SliderGallery rightalign\|Dayflower_FORS.JPG~FORS]]]
	== Resources and Citations ==		== Resources and Citations ==