Sustaining colors of tradition: ethnobotanical study on natural dye plants in Guangxi, China

Plant dyes represent a valuable heritage of traditional natural colorants, renowned for their sustainability and health benefits. Although Guangxi has a rich variety of dyeing plants and their traditional knowledge, these have not yet been fully explored and studied. This study aims to systematically document the dye plant resources in Guangxi, including their species distribution, traditional uses and residents' preferences. In response to the challenges of resources and techniques, it proposes to enhance protection and innovation in order to promote the inheritance of traditional knowledge and the development of industries.

This study carried out ethnobotanical surveys across 26 villages and 10 traditional markets in Guangxi between March 2021 and October 2024. Data on dye plants were collected through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and structured questionnaires, involving a total of 262 participants. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) was employed to identify the most culturally significant dye plant species.

This study documented 166 species of traditional dye plants belonging to 69 families and 141 genera. The most commonly used parts for dyeing were leaves (28.77%) and flowers (12.74%). Traditional dyeing processes mainly use pulverizing and sometimes decocting. The most common uses of traditional dye plants were for dyeing textiles (59.36%) and food (21.93%). Based on the RFC values of each species, the most frequently used dye plants were Liquidambar formosana, Buddleja officinalis, Impatiens balsamina, Strobilanthes cusia, and Curcuma longa.

Guangxi's abundant dye plant resources not only meet the color demands for traditional clothing and food but also offer health benefits. This aligns with society's focus on sustainability and health. These dyeing methods are practical and culturally significant. They support the production of eco-friendly dyes, boost the local economy, preserve ethnic culture, and protect biodiversity.