Sweet basil
Ocimum americanum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows each year from seed. It grows 20-30 cm high. The stems are erect and hairy. There are many branches. The leaf stalk is 5-12 mm long and hairy. The leaf blade is oval and 1-1.7 cm long by 5-10 mm wide. The base is wedge shaped and the edges can have teeth. There are 4-5 pairs of side veins. The flowering stalks are crowded and 10-14 cm long.

There are about 150 Ocimum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Central Africa, China, Congo DR, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritania, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Thailand, USA, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are soaked overnight as the base for a cooling drink. They are also eaten raw. The leaves are made into a paste with spices and eaten raw. They are also used in chutney. They can be dried for later use. The seeds are mixed with other grains to make bread. The flowers are used as a flavouring.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, spice, vegetable, root, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Ajaka, Alfavaca, Ameriška bazilika, Bana, Bana tulasi, Banta, Bapchi, Bavachi, Dingwansi, E-soro, Gambhira, Hoary basil, Hui luo le, Kala tulsi, Kattu tulasi, Kemangi, Kukka tulasi, Kuthera, Lunmui, Mamri, Marua, Meno, Muii, Nayi tulasi, Patmanja, Rantulshi, Runhmui, Tulsi, Vala-tulsi

Synonyms

Ocimum album Roxb.; Ocimum brachiatum Blume; Ocimum canum Sims; Ocimum africanum Loureiro; Probably separate species - hybrid. Ocimum dichotomum Hochst. ex Benth.; Ocimum dinteri Briq.; Ocimum fluminense Vahl; Ocimum fruticulosum Burch.; Ocimum hispidulum Schumach. & Thonn.; Ocimum incanescens Mart.; Ocimum stamineum Sims; Ocimum thymoides Baker;