මරතෝණ්ඩි[Marathondi]/Camphire/Henna/Tree-Mignonette (Lawsonia inermis)

A shrub or small tree occurs in saline flats and hot dry places. Often cultivated. Indigenous or introduced and naturalized during an unknown period of the history. A dye obtain by powdering twigs and young leaves of this plant and adding hot water to form a paste is known since very ancient time. The dye is used to color hair, nails, teeth of humans as well as the tails and manes of horses and donkeys. Flowers with soap like smell are used as a perfume.