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Henna (Lawsonia inermis)
Photo: Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 2 countries shrub

Henna

Lawsonia inermis

Family: Lythraceae

On our map this plant appears in 2 countries and ranks highest in: United Arab Emirates, Sudan.

A densely branched shrub or small tree of the loosestrife family, growing to 2–6 m, with small, elliptical leaves and panicles of tiny, strongly scented flowers – white, cream or pinkish. The leaves contain a red-orange dye, lawsone, which binds permanently to the keratin of skin, hair and nails. The leaves are dried and ground into a green powder which, mixed with water or lemon juice, becomes a staining paste. The shrub copes well with heat, drought and slightly saline soil.

Description from: United Arab Emirates.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. United Arab Emirates no. 7 of 8 cultivated

    In the Emirates, painting the hands and feet with henna is an important tradition before a wedding – during the henna night (laylat al-hinna) – and before the festivals of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

  2. Sudan no. 10 of 10 cultivated

    In Sudan henna is an inseparable part of a wedding: on the henna night the bride’s hands and feet are painted with intricate patterns, and the groom’s hands and feet are also stained with henna.