ALCANNA

ALCAN'NA, noun A plant; and a powder, prepared from the leaves of the Egyptian privet, used by the Turkish females to give a golden color to the nails and hair. Infused in water it forms a yellow color; with vinegar, it forms a red. From the berries is extracted an oil, used in medicine. In Cairo, it forms an article of commerce.

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‖Al‐can″na (�), n. [[Sp. alcana, alhe�a, fr. Ar. al-hinnā. See Henna, and cf. Alkanet.]] (Bot.) An oriental shrub (Lawsonia inermis) from which henna is obtained.