Quirks of dye nomenclature. 14. Madder: queen of red dyes

Abstract

The long history of madder as a source of red dyes and pigments is presented. The variety of plant sources and the range of anthraquinone components discovered over a long period are addressed. Topics such as analysis, industrial uses, biological staining, red bone staining in live animals and toxicity are outlined briefly. The contributions of many chemists are acknowledged.

Topics & Concepts