Lawsonia inermis L., Sp. Pl. 2 (1753)

Synonyms
Alcanna spinosa Gaertn.
Casearia multiflora Spreng.
Lawsonia alba Lam.
Lawsonia speciosa L.
Lawsonia spinosa L.
Rotantha combretoides Baker

Description
Shrub up to 7 m tall and 16 cm dbh. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, glabrous. Flowers ca. 5 mm diameter, white-yellow-reddish, placed in panicles. Fruits ca. 7 mm diameter, green-brown, fleshy capsules filled with many small seeds.

Ecology
In Borneo usually cultivated near houses or villages in secondary vegetation or coastal types on sandy soils.

Uses
Mainly cultivated for its yellow-brown dye (Henna), which is used to colour skin, nails, hair, but also leather.

Distribution
Pan-tropical. In Borneo collected in Sarawak, Sabah and East-Kalimantan.

Local names
Borneo: Itinai, Pachad.