In 1811, a paper by William Roxburgh was published in the Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. In it Roxburgh described four species used in dye manufacture in India and the surrounding region. This publication has been largely overlooked by plant taxonomists. Of the four names, one, Nerium tinctorium, had already been published. For the other three, Asclepias tinctoria, A. tingens and Indigofera coerulea, this represents the earliest place of valid publication. The application and typification of these names are reviewed. Some notes on other Roxburgh names appearing in the Transactions are included.