Lawsonia Inermis

This is the celebrated henna of the East. The

use of the powdered leaves as a cosmetic is very general in Asia

and northern Africa, the practice having descended from very

remote ages, as is proved by the Egyptian mummies, the parts dyed

being usually the finger and toe nails, the tips of the fingers,

the palms of the hands, and soles of the feet, receiving a reddish

color, considered by Oriental belles as highly ornamental. Henna

is prepared by reducing the leaves to powder, and when used is

made into a pasty mass with water and spread on the part to be

dyed, being allowed to remain for twelve hours. The plant is known

in the West Indies as Jamaica Mignonette.