Privet

European privet Ligustrum vulgare

Description

A natural yellow color dye obtained from the leaves of privet bushes of the species Ligustrum, such as Ligustrum vulgare and Ligustrum japonicum. Fresh privet leaves are ground and extracted with water to produce a gold color dye on wool mordanted with chrome (will not dye cotton). Privet dye has good color fastness.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Ligustrum vulgare (common privet, European privet); Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet); Almindelig Liguster (Dan.); Liguster (Deut., Sven.); wilde liguster (Ned.);

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Shrub growing to 6 m.
• Bark=smooth gray-bray with numerous lenticels.
• Leaves=thick, shiny evergreen, elliptical (5-7 cm long)
• Flowers=cluster of small, creamy white, fragrant blooms
• Fruit=dark blue oblong (0.5 cm) drupes in clusters

Resources and Citations

• Schoch, W., Heller, I., Schweingruber, F.H., Kienast, F., 2004:Wood anatomy of central European Species: Privet, Ligustrum vulgare L.

• Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (Accessed Dec. 9, 2005)

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privet (Accessed Dec. 9, 2005)

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997