''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial
herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicina ...
s and shrubs in the family
Lamiaceae
The Lamiaceae ( )
or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savo ...
, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families /ref> It is the genus of
basil
Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also ...
and the name is from the Ancient Greek word for basil, (). Its best known species are the cooking herb great basil, ''O. basilicum'', and the
medicinal herb
Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs, have been discovered and used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for various functions, including Plant defense against her ...
larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
Th ...
Ocimum americanum
''Ocimum americanum'', known as American basil, lime basil, or hoary basil, is a species of annual herb in the family Lamiaceae. Despite the misleading name, it is native to Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. The speci ...
'' L. (tropical
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
), Indian Subcontinent, China, Southeast Asia; naturalized in Queensland, Christmas Island, and parts of tropical America
#''
Ocimum amicorum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Tanzania
#''
Ocimum angustifolium
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Benth. - southeastern Africa from Kenya to Tranasvaal
# ''
Ocimum basilicum
Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also k ...
'' L. – Basil, Sweet basil - China, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia; naturalized in Russia, Ukraine, Africa, Mexico, Central America, South America, and various oceanic islands
#''
Ocimum burchellianum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Benth. - Cape Province of South Africa
# ''
Ocimum campechianum
''Ocimum campechianum'' is a plant species in the family Lamiaceae, widespread across Mexico, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and Florida.
Leaves of ''Ocimum campechianum'' are eaten in Brazil's Amazon jungle. Similar to basil, ...
'' Mill. – Amazonian basil - widespread across Florida, Mexico, West Indies, Central and South America
#''
Ocimum canescens
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Tanzania
#''
Ocimum carnosum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Spreng.) Link & Otto ex Benth. - Mexico, South America
# ''
Ocimum centraliafricanum
''Ocimum centraliafricanum'', the copper flower or copper plant, is a perennial herb found in central Africa ( DRC, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe). It is well known for its tolerance of high levels of copper in the soil, and is even used by geolog ...
'' R.E.Fr - Zaïre, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
#''
Ocimum circinatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Ethiopia, Somalia
#''
Ocimum coddii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (S.D.Williams & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton - Northern Province of South Africa
#''
Ocimum cufodontii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Lanza) A.J.Paton - Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya
#''
Ocimum dambicola
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Tanzania, Zambia
#''
Ocimum decumbens
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Gürke - from Zaïre to South Africa
#''
Ocimum dhofarense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus o ...
'' (Sebald) A.J.Paton - Oman
#''
Ocimum dolomiticola
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Northern Province of South Africa
#''
Ocimum ellenbeckii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Gürke - Ethiopia, Zaïre
#''
Ocimum empetroides
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (P.A.Duvign.) ined. - Zaïre
#''
Ocimum ericoides
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (P.A.Duvign. & Plancke) A.J.Paton - Zaïre
#''
Ocimum filamentosum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Forssk. - eastern + southern Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
#''
Ocimum fimbriatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Briq. - central Africa
#''
Ocimum fischeri
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Gürke - Kenya, Tanzania
#''
Ocimum formosum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Gürke - Bale Province of Ethiopia
#''
Ocimum forskolei
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Benth. - eastern Africa from Egypt to Kenya, Angola, Arabian Peninsula
#''
Ocimum fruticosum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Ryding) A.J.Paton - Somalia
#''
Ocimum grandiflorum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Lam. - Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia
#''
Ocimum gratissimum
''Ocimum gratissimum'', also known as clove basil, African basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil,Ocimum hirsutissimum'' (P.A.Duvign.) A.J.Paton - Zaïre
#''
Ocimum irvinei
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' J.K.Morton - West Africa
#''
Ocimum jamesii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Sebald - Ethiopia, Somalia
#''
Ocimum kenyense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Ayob. ex A.J.Paton - Kenya, Tanzania
# ''
Ocimum kilimandscharicum
''Ocimum kilimandscharicum'', also known as camphor basil, is a basil species native to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya offici ...
'' Baker ex Gürke – Camphor basil - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia; naturalized in Angola, India, Myanmar, Thailand
#''
Ocimum labiatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (N.E.Br.) A.J.Paton - Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini
#''
Ocimum lamiifolium
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Hochst. ex Benth - eastern + central Africa
#''
Ocimum masaiense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Ayob. ex A.J.Paton - Ngong Hills in Kenya
#''
Ocimum mearnsii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Ayob. ex Sebald) A.J.Paton - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
#''
Ocimum metallorum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (P.A.Duvign.) A.J.Paton - Zaïre
# '' Ocimum minimum'' L. - India, Sri Lanka
#''
Ocimum minutiflorum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Sebald) A.J.Paton - eastern + central Africa
#''
Ocimum mitwabense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Ayob.) A.J.Paton - Zaïre
#''
Ocimum monocotyloides
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Plancke ex Ayob.) A.J.Paton - Zaïre
#''
Ocimum motjaneanum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' McCallum & K.Balkwill - Eswatini
#''
Ocimum natalense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Ayob. ex A.J.Paton - Mozambique, KwaZulu-Natal
#''
Ocimum nudicaule
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Benth. - Brazil, Paraguay, Misiones Province of Argentina
#''
Ocimum nummularia
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (S.Moore) A.J.Paton - Somalia
#''
Ocimum obovatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' E.Mey. ex Benth. - tropical Africa, Madagascar
#''
Ocimum ovatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Benth. - Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina
#''
Ocimum pseudoserratum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (M.R.Ashby) A.J.Paton - Northern Province of South Africa
#''
Ocimum pyramidatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (A.J.Paton) A.J.Paton - Tanzania
#''
Ocimum reclinatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
Ocimum serpyllifolium
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Forssk. - Somalia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia
#''
Ocimum serratum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (Schltr.) A.J.Paton - South Africa, Eswatini
#''
Ocimum somaliense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Briq. - Ethiopia
#''
Ocimum spectabile
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
Ocimum spicatum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Deflers - Ethiopia, Yemen, Kenya, Somalia
#''
Ocimum tenuiflorum
''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...
'' L. – Holy basil, tulsi - China, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, Queensland; naturalized in Kenya, Fiji, French Polynesia, West Indies, Venezuela
#''
Ocimum transamazonicum
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' C.Pereira - Brazil
#''
Ocimum tubiforme
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (R.D.Good) A.J.Paton - Northern Province of South Africa
#''
Ocimum urundense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' Robyns & Lebrun - Burundi, Tanzania
#''
Ocimum vandenbrandei
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (P.A.Duvign. & Plancke ex Ayob.) A.J.Paton - Marungu Province in Zaïre
#''
Ocimum vanderystii
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (De Wild.) A.W.Hill. - Zaïre, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola, Zambia
#''
Ocimum viphyense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' A.J.Paton - Malawi, Zambia
#''
Ocimum waterbergense
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. It is the genus of ...
'' (S.D.Williams & K.Balkwill) A.J.Paton - Northern Province of South Africa
Hybrids
*'' Ocimum × africanum'' Lour. - Africa, Madagascar, China, Indian Subcontinent, Indochina; naturalized in Guatemala, Chiapas, Netherlands Antilles, eastern Brazil
*'' Ocimum × citriodorum'' (''O. americanum'' × ''O. basilicum'') – Lemon basil
*''Ocimum kilimandscharicum'' × ''basilicum'' ' Dark Opal' –
African blue basil
African blue basil ('' Ocimum kilimandscharicum'' × ''basilicum'' ' Dark Opal') is a hybrid basil variety, a cross between camphor basil and dark opal basil. It is one of a few types of basil that are perennial. African blue basil plants are ...
Formerly placed here
*''
Basilicum polystachyon
''Basilicum'' is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1802. It contains only one known species, ''Basilicum polystachyon'', native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia (Saudi Arabia, India, China, Indochina, Borneo, Phi ...
'' (L.) Moench (as ''O. polystachyon'' L.)
*''
Isodon inflexus
''Isodon'' is a group of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae described as a genus in 1840. It is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the Old World, primarily Asia but two species are from Africa. Many of the species are endemic
...
'' (Thunb.) Kudô (as ''O. inflexum'' Thunb.)
*''
Frankenia salina
''Frankenia salina'', often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath, is a perennial herb native to California, Nevada, Mexico and Chile. It is uncommon even in the region where it is most likely to be found, just north of the San Francisco Bay Are ...
Mosla scabra
''Mosla'' is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described as a genus in 1875. It is native to eastern Asia, the Himalayas, and southeastern Asia.
;Species
# ''Mosla bracteata'' Doan ex Suddee & A.J.Paton - Vietnam
# ''Mosla cava ...
Orthosiphon aristatus
''Orthosiphon aristatus'', commonly known as cat's whiskers or Java tea, is a plant species in the family (biology), family Lamiaceae (also known Labiatae). The plant is a medicinal herb found mainly throughout southern China, the Indian Subconti ...
Plectranthus scutellarioides
''Coleus scutellarioides'', commonly known as coleus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae (the mint or deadnettle family), native to southeast Asia through to Australia. Typically growing to tall and wide, it is a bushy, wood ...
'' (L.) R.Br. (as ''O. scutellarioides'' L.)
Cultivation and uses
Most culinary and ornamental basils are cultivars of ''
Ocimum basilicum
Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also k ...
'' and there are many hybrids between species.
Thai basil
Thai basil ( th, โหระพา, , ISO: hōraphā, ; km, ជីរនាងវង, ''chi neang vorng''; vi, húng quế) called ''káu-chàn-thah'' () in Taiwan, is a type of basil native to Southeast Asia that has been cultivated to pr ...
(''O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora'') is a common ingredient in
Thai cuisine
Thai cuisine ( th, อาหารไทย, , ) is the national cuisine of Thailand.
Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. Australian chef David Thompson, an expert on Th ...
, with a strong flavour similar to
aniseed
Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia.
The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...
, used to flavour
Thai curries
Thai curry ( th, แกง, translit=kaeng, ) is a dish in Thai cuisine made from curry paste, coconut milk or water, meat, seafood, vegetables or fruit, and herbs. Curries in Thailand mainly differ from the curries in India in their use of ing ...
and stir-fries.
Lemon basil
Lemon basil, hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, or Lao basil,Dorothy Culloty (''Ocimum'' × ''africanum'') is a Hybrid (biology), hybrid between basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') and American basil (''Ocimum americanum''). The herb is grown primarily in ...
(''Ocimum × citriodorum'') is a
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...
between ''O. americanum'' and ''O. basilicum''. It is noted for its
lemon
The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China.
The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...
flavour and used in cooking.
Holy basil or ''tulsi'' ('' O. tenuiflorum'') is a sacred herb revered as dear to
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within ...
in some sects of
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
. ''Tulsi'' is used in teas, healing remedies, and cosmetics in India, and it is also used in Thai cooking. Amazonian basil ('' O. campechianum'') is a South American species often utilized in
ayahuasca
AyahuascaPronounced as in the UK and in the US. Also occasionally known in English as ''ayaguasca'' ( Spanish-derived), ''aioasca'' (Brazilian Portuguese-derived), or as ''yagé'', pronounced or . Etymologically, all forms but ''yagé'' desce ...
rituals for its smell which is said to help avoid bad visions. '' O. centraliafricanum'' is valued as an
indicator species
A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other sma ...
for the presence of copper deposits.
See also
*
List of basil cultivars
Basil cultivars are cultivated varieties of basil. They are used in a variety of ways: as culinary herbs, landscape plants, healing herbs, teas, and worship implements. All true basils are species of the genus '' Ocimum''. The genus is particularl ...