Henna

The plant associated with the Qur’ānic name kafūr is disputed. The name occurs once in the Qur’ān; it could refer to grape blossoms or a sheath of palm tree pollen. In some translations it refers to camphor, obtained from the wood of the camphor tree, but some translate it as henna, a term used by Arabic-speaking Persians for the plant Lawsonia inermis, which was used as a dye.

Henna is still used as a dye today in many cultures and has associations with good health.

Painted from specimens found at Sharjah Botanic Gardens, UAE.

Completed painting size: 51 x 82cm
Flowers x 9, fruit, fresh and dried x 5, single seed x 25, flower dissection x 9
Watercolour on paper