Description
A shrub whose crushed leaves yield the orange-red dye known as henna, used for body art and hair coloring.
Medicinal Uses
Leaves are used traditionally as an astringent and antimicrobial for skin conditions, and in decoction for headache.
Ritual / Cultural Uses
Henna is used for ceremonial body and hair decoration, especially at weddings, across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia; a Tiv-specific protocol was not independently confirmed.
Cultivation
Cultivated as a hedge or garden shrub, propagated from cuttings or seed; leaves are dried and ground into the dye powder.
