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General Information

COMMON NAMES: Henna, Mignonette Tree, Mignonette Bush GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE n.Africa - s.Asia COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Not naturalised; S.Group only (RR only - uncommon); Land, lowlands, gardens SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Ornamental tree (flowers mainly) KEY FEATURES: Tree/shrub to 6m. Leaves opposite, smooth edges, oval to 4x3cm. Flowers terminal cluster, fragrant; white, pink or red, 6mmØ; petals 4. Fruit round 6mmØ.. NOTE: The dried leaves provide henna, a orange dye, used on hair, body, and clothes.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++							-	-

Northern Group: -
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
-	-	-	-	-	-

Lawsonia inerma Linnaeus
SYNONYMS: Lawsonia alba; Lawsonia rubra

TAXONOMY: PLANTAE; ANTHOPHYTA (=Angiospermae); MAGNOLIOPSIDA (=Dicotyledones); ROSIDAE; Myrtales; LYTHRACEAE

IDENTIFICATION: Tree/shrub to 6m. LEAVES opposite, adjacent pairs at right angles (decussate), oval, to 4x3cm. FLOWERS terminal clusters, fragrant, small to 6mmØ; white, pink or red; sepals 4; petals 4. FRUIT round, 6mmØ, brittle. Cvs 'Alba' and 'Rubra'.

GENERAL NOTE: Dried ground leaves provide henna, a very fast orange dye. The dye is used to colour hair, skin, nails, teeth, leather and cloth. First used by the Egyptians, later used by several cultures.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: fieldspecimen+photo, Poko Tutaka garden Tupapa, 3/2002, Bill Sykes

References:
p.619 Neal - In Gardens of Hawaii
p.642 Hortus 3rd
p.653 Royal Hort. Soc. Index of Garden Plants
p.620 Tropica
p.3/289 A.C.Smith - Flora Vitiensis Nova

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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