Common Name : Henna Other Name : Samphire, Madayantika Botanical Name : Lawsonia Inermis Linn Plant Family : Lythraceae Synonyms : Lawsonia Alba Lamk. Part Used : Dried Leaf . Overview : Lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphtoquinone), Also Known As Hennotannic Acid , Is A Red-organic Dye Present In The Leaves Of The Henna Plant (lawsonia Inermis). Lawsone Reacts Chemically With The Protein Known As Keratin In Skin And Hair, In A Process Known As Michael Addition, Resulting In A Strong Permanent Stain. Henna is shrub standing 1.0 to 1.5 m tall. It is glabrous and multi-branched, with spine-tipped branchlets. The leaves grow opposite each other on the stem and are glabrous, sub-sessile, elliptical and lanceolate. Henna flowers are white and fruits are small, brownish round capsules. Henna is a flowering plant used since antiquity to dye skin, hair, fingernails, leather and wool.