Lawsonia inermis L.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular

HENNA

Morphology General Habit

A bushy shrub 2 m tall or more; leaves elliptic to obovate, 1–3.5 cm long, sharply acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles 5–20 cm long; calyx 3–5 mm long; petals dull creamy or tawny, 4–6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsules 4–7 mm in diameter.

Distribution

Cayman Islands. Probably native of eastern Africa and tropical Asia, but now planted and often naturalised in most warm countries.

Ecology

In the Cayman Islands, it now grows wild in thickets and along the borders of pastures.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

jazmín, mielito, resedá, resedad, resedo

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 20 - 450 m.; Llanura del Caribe, Pacífico, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Arbusto, árbol

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen shrub or small tree 2–7 m. high, glabrous, with the young branches 4-angular and the old ones terete, rigid and often spinescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1·2–6·7 x 0·5–2·7 cm., elliptic, obovate to oblanceolate, acute at the apex, sometimes mucronulate, narrowed into a short petiole, pinnately nerved, submembranous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles 5–25 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers whitish, scented; pedicels 2–4 mm. long; bracts 0·4–0·7 mm. long, linear, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1–1·7 mm. high, with the lobes 2–3 mm. long, ovate-triangular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1·5–2·5 mm. long, slightly clawed, yellowish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with the filaments c. 5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style c. 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 4–6 x 4·5–8 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2–2·6 mm. long.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Note

(Arabic.: henna)

Morphology General Habit

A small glabrous shrub with opposite, elliptic to obovate leaves; flowers 4-merous, white, in terminal panicles, fragrant; capsule ± 5 mm in diameter dehiscing irregularly.

Distribution

A monotypic genus distributed throughout Africa and Asia. It has been grown in Egypt and the Middle East since ancient times. Its origin is obscure, but it is believed to be indigenous to SW Asia; it is planted and naturalized ± throughout its range. It is cultivated in central and southern Iraq.

Lythraceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers creamy-white, sweet scented

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Caribbean, Pacific. Elevation range: 20–450 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bolívar, Cesar, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Magdalena.

Habit

Shrub, Tree.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, desert, artificial - terrestrial.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen shrub or tree 2–7 m high; young stems 4-sided, sometimes forming rigid spines

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic, obovate to oblanceolate, 1.2–6.7 x 0.5–2.7 cm, base cuneate into short petiole, tip acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles 5–25 cm long; bracts minute, caducous Flowers scented; pedicels 2–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Hypanthium plus sepals 3–5 mm long, sepals ovate-triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals ovate, 1.5–2.5 mm long, base cordate, yellowish-white; style c. 3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits exserted from hypanthium, 4–6 x 4.5–8 mm, pale

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2–2.6 mm long.

Distribution

N1; C1, 2; S1–3 throughout the Old World tropics, widely cultivated; introduced to the New World tropics.

Ecology

Altitude range 30–1500 m.

Vernacular

Cilaan, ellan (Somali); henna (Arabic, English: applied to dye obtained from this species).

Lythraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit

Glabrous shrub or small tree 1.5–7(–10.5–?12) m. tall often densely tangled and several m. wide; bark ashy grey or brown, smooth or striate; spines (modified young branches) sometimes present and up to 3.5 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic or oblong to oblanceolate, 1–8.5 cm. long, 0.2–3.8 cm. wide, acute, apiculate or occasionally rounded at the apex, cuneate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 3–25 cm. long; pedicels 2–4 mm. long; bracteoles linear, ± 0.5 mm. long; flowers sweet-scented; buds sometimes reddish at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 1–1.7 mm. long; lobes 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, cream, greenish white, green or yellow, 1.5–2.5(–4) mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 4–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style ± 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits purplish green, 4–6 mm. long, 4.5–8 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2–2.6 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 4.

Habitat

Temporarily flooded rocky river courses in dry country with Acacia, Salvadora, Capparidaceae, etc., riverine thicket, Cordia-Hyphaene associations, also riverine forest with Populus, Acacia, Ficus, Kigelia, hillsides, cliffs, rock-crevices, etc., also near coast; ± 2–1350 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K4 K7 P T3 T5 T6 U1 Z Senegal to Nigeria, Zaire, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Mozambique, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoro Is., South Africa (Natal)also Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Arabia, Egypt, Libya, China, Pakistan (wild in Baluchistan), India, Maldive Is., Sri Lanka, Malaya, Indochina, Malesia to New Guinea and Australia (see note)

Use

A paste made from powdered leaves and water yields an orange-red dye used widely in the eastern world to stain hands and hair during celebrations and otherwise. Also used medicinally as a coolant, against sunburn and itchy skin.

Use

Widely cultivated as a dye-plant (Henna).

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Invertebrate Food

Used as invertebrate food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.

Use

The crushed leaves, mixed with an acid such as lime juice, produce a red dye used for colouring hair and skin.