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Tannins are used for coagulating the protein in hides and skins, so that resistant leather can be produced. Lighter vegetable tannins dominate in the production of leather. Tannins are obtained from the bark of mangrove, sundri trees, wattle, avaram, sumac, arjun, Indian almond, jujube, Cuddapah-almond, hog-plum, chestnut, and leaves of smoke trees.
The dyes are coloured compounds. On being fixed to fabrics, they do not wash out with soap and water or fade on exposure to light. About 150 dye yielding plants are available in Indian forests, but only a few have been utilised so far.