Henna
A shrub whose dried, powdered leaves stain skin, hair and nails orange to red-brown.
Also: hina, Lawsonia
Henna is a small flowering shrub that grows in hot, dry regions from North Africa to India. Its leaves contain a dye that binds to the protein in skin, hair and nails. People have used it for thousands of years, from Morocco and Sudan through Arabia and Iran to South Asia, to colour hair and beards and to decorate the body. Natural henna only ever gives shades of orange, red and brown. Products sold as black henna often contain a chemical hair dye that can cause severe skin reactions.