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Story: Lichens

Lichen-dyed wool

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Lichen-dyed wool

Some natural dyes are made from lichens. In New Zealand Pseudocyphellaria coronata is known as the wool-dyer’s lichen. It is clear when boiled in water, but shades of green, pink, mauve, grey and brown can be made with the addition of mordants (fixing agents) such as ammonia and iron sulfate.

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by Alastair McLean and Bill Malcolm (inset)

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Lichens – Lichens in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10988/lichen-dyed-wool (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.