Fourteen species of the blue dye indigo producing genus Indigofera have been described as new to science in 2009. Few natural by-products have played as prominent a role in history and in international trade as indigo. It has been a valued dye from the earliest human civilizations because of its compatibility with all types of natural fibers and its ability to be combined with other natural dyes to create a range of colors not possible to produce with synthetic substitutes. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has had a long-standing interest in the research of this genus and these discoveries arose during ongoing research in southern tropical Africa. Of the 14 new species described, 11 are highly localized and are threatened with extinction.

Indigofera has more than 750 species and occurs throughout the tropical regions of the world. It is member of Leguminosae (pea family).

Kew: 250 Years And 250 Plants Species Discovered — redOrbit