henna

Small shrub belonging to the loosestrife family, found in Iran, India, Egypt, and North Africa. The leaves and young twigs are ground to a powder, mixed to a paste with hot water, and applied to the fingernails and hair to give an orange-red hue. The colour may then be changed to black by applying a preparation of indigo. (Lawsonia inermis, family Lythraceae.)

Henna can also be used to dye both natural and synthetic textiles.