Aal

Indian mulberry Morinda citrifolia

Description

A natural red dye obtained from the roots of Morinda tinctoria and Morinda citrifolia plants native to the East Indies. Aal, or Indian mulberry, contains the colorant Morindone. Traditionally, the root was powdered, soaked in a water containing Symplocos bark, then rubbed directly into the fabric (Hofmann 1996).

Synonyms and Related Terms

aal root; al; suranji; sornajee; morindone; Indian mulberry; Morinda tinctoria; Morinda citrifolia

Resources and Citations

• R. Hofmann, "The B³hler Collection of Indonesian Dyeplants" Dyes in History and Archaeology, no. 15, Papers from the 15th annual meeting held in Manchester England, Nov. 1996.

• Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996