dyer's greenwood (species) en

A small shrub native to Europe and Asia that produces a yellow dye named after the plant. The dye is obtained from the flowers, leaves and branches of the plant. It was used as a yellow dye on wool since prehistoric times. Up to the 17th century, dyer's broom was one of three yellow fabric dyes used Europe. The primary colorant in dyer's broom is genistein. It produces a strong yellow color with an alum mordant on wool, silk or cotton. Often woad was overdyed on the dyer's broom to produce a yellowish-greenish color known as Kendal green. In the United States, the name dyer's broom has also been used for the broomsedge plant.