I have not used the alkanet root "powder" before. Every time I bought it (one pound or so at a time) it was in the form of small shavings of the actual roots, no powder at all, this was all actually small pieces (averaged 1" to 1 1/2" long) very thin shavings of the root. Wonder how the two may differ in coloring action, and how the powder is obtained. Sounds like it may be something like "left-overs" from the root shaving process, but I certainly don't know for sure. I soak mine in turpentine to leach all the color out, and then there is the leached out root shavings as waste when you are done.
