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Glite Dictionary
Indigofera suffruticosa

Indigofera suffruticosa

9.9
A shrub from the West Indies and South America grown for its leaves to make indigo dye
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Indigofera suffruticosa
  • The leaves of Indigofera suffruticosa are processed to produce natural indigo dye.

Examples

  • Farmers in the Caribbean cultivate Indigofera suffruticosa for dye production.

  • Indigofera suffruticosa was widely cultivated by indigenous peoples for its dye-producing properties.

  • Botanists study Indigofera suffruticosa to understand traditional methods of dye extraction.

  • The Indigofera suffruticosa plant is known for its beautiful blue dye.

  • Indigofera suffruticosa is a key plant in the production of natural indigo dye in South America.

  • Farmers grow Indigofera suffruticosa to harvest leaves that are used to make dye.

  • Artists often use dye from Indigofera suffruticosa in traditional fabric designs.

Synonyms

Indigofera anil
vsIndigofera suffruticosa
  • Specialized
9.9

A shrub from the West Indies and South America that people grow for indigo dye

has the same meaning but uses a different scientific name
anil
vsIndigofera suffruticosa
9.9

A bush that people grow to make blue dye

has identical sense but records a different scientific name

Surface Forms

Indigofera suffruticosa singular
Indigofera suffruticosas plural

Morphology

Indigofera + suffruticosa

The term is a taxonomic Latin binomial: 'Indigofera' clearly signals an indigo-producing plant, so a learner who knows that can infer it refers to an indigo plant. However, 'suffruticosa' is a technical Latin species epithet (not common English) and conveys a botanical nuance (somewhat shrubby) that requires specialist knowledge, so the overall meaning is only partly predictable.

Etymology

Indigofera suffruticosa is a plant name that tells its story: Indigofera means 'bearing indigo' because the leaves make blue dye, and suffruticosa means 'a small woody shrub'. So the name points to a shrub used to produce indigo dye.