Lawsonia inermis explained
It is the only species in the genus Lawsonia. The shrub grows up to around six metres tall, has small fragrant white or pink flowers, and thrives in heat, which is why leaves harvested in hot seasons tend to have higher dye content.
Only the leaves are used for body art. Bark, flowers and seeds have traditional uses in perfumes and herbal remedies, but they do not produce a useful skin stain.
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