Lawsonia inermis

• Botanical Name : Lawsonia inermis L.
• Synonyms : Lawsonia speciosa L.
• Common Name : Hennah, Mehndi
• Plant Family : Lythraceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 5, 10, 17, 23, 29
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Van Chetana Kendra, Basan

About Lawsonia inermis Plant :

• Habit : A much branched shrub, branches 4-angled, often with a sharp point.
• Leaves : Opposite, elliptic acute mucronate, entire, base narrow.
• Flowers :
  • Many, fragrant, white or rose-coloured, in large, terminal panicled cymes.
  • Calyx campanulate, lobes 4, ovate, acute.
  • Petals 4, undulate, episepalous, short-clawed, slightly rounded.
  • Stamens 8, inserted in pairs on the calyx-tube.
  • Ovary globose, 2-4 celled, ovules many on axile placenta, style thick, stigma capitate.
• Fruit : Capsule globose, supported by calyx-tube and tipped with the style, seeds many, triangular.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : April-July
• Significance :
  • Cultivated as a hedge plant.
  • The plant yields an orange-red dye called Hennah, which is employed by Indian ladies to colour hair, nails, hands and feet and also by hajis for dyeing their beards.