Goldthread
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Description
A family of flowering plants of the family Coptis native to Asia (Coptis japonica, Coptis chinensis) and North America (Coptis trifolia). Goldthread is a small woodland perennial famous for its bright yellow, thread-like rhizomes. These bitter roots can be boiled in water to create a brilliant, permanent golden-yellow dye for natural fibers, leather, and decorative items. The yellow colorant is primarily berberine and it fluoresces brightly in ultraviolet light. In addition to fabrics, Native Americans used to colorant to dye porcupine quills, animal skins and splints for basketry. The plant is now considered endangered in some regions.
- See also [Uemera Dye Archive (Ouren)]
Synonyms and Related Terms
mouthroot; canker root; Ouren (Jap.)
Resources and Citations
- R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968
- Wikipedia Coptis (accessed June 2020)