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Lawsonia inermis
| Family Name: | Lythraceae |
| Synonyms: | Lawsonia alba |
| Common Name: | Henna Tree, Inai, Hinai, Mignonette Tree, Egyptian Privet, Hinna, Pacar Kuku, 指甲花, 散沫花 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 2.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | North Africa, Southwest Asia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Henna a well known ethnomedicinal plant used cosmetically and medicinally in the Indian traditional folk medicines for thousand years. Root is used as abortifacient, to treat leprosy, skin diseases, dysmenorrhoea and premature greying of hair. The leaves are used as an astringent or as a prophylactic against skin diseases and the bark is useful in the treatment of jaundice, enlargement of the spleen, calculus affection ans skin diseases(Anand et al, 1992). Others: The leaves of the henna plant are the source of red-brown dye widely used for body art. The paste of ground leaves has been used to color skin, hair, fingernails, leather, silk and wool. The flowers and fruits are used in perfumery. |
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Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Container Planting |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Spines/Thorns - Stem/Branch |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water, [Remarks] (Constantly moist soil will suffer from root rot and disease affection. Let henna plant's soil get dry, then give it plenty of water all at once.) |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Dry Soils / Drought, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 14 days to 21 days |
| Seed / Spore Germination Rate | 70% |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White, Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 895 |
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| Species ID | 2189 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |