LABIATE. m 



are 



The fruit is 





a broadj compressed capsule, one incli in length, dehiscin 

 t^ro thick valves; seed erect, cotyledons large, plaited length- 

 wise, radicle inferior, villous. The roots stand out of the mud in 

 which they grow, overarching each other in erect angled masses, 

 and send up asparagus-like shoots from their undergroimd 

 parts. . . 



Chemical compositwn.-— The hark of A. officinalis is used in 



Madras 



It contains a red 



o 



striking a greeni 



but giving no precipitate with gelatine. The colouring matter 

 is precipitated hy acids and redissolved by alkaKes. The ash 

 of the air- dried bark amounts to 11 '4 per cent. , and is 

 deliquescent. 



LABIATE. 



OCIMUM BASILICUM, lAm. 



I ■ 



Fig. — Wight Ic.y t, 868; Jacq. Hort. VincL iii,^ t. 72; 

 Rheede^ Rort. Mai, x., t 87, Sweet Basil (Eng.), Grand Basilie 



{Fr.). 



h 



Hab. — Persia, Punjab. Cultivated throughout India. The 

 herb and seeds. 



Vernacular. — Nazbo, Sabza {Hind* ) , Sabja {Mar.y Ghiz.), 



Nasbo, Sabja, Baboi-tulsi {Beng.\ Tirunitru-pachchai (Tarn.), 

 Vibudi-pattri (2V/.), Kam-kasturi {CaUu). 



History, Uses, &C. — The Hindus dislike the smell of 

 this plant ; tlxe Malionietans on the other hand are very partial 

 to it. The Arabs call it Rih^n or " the herb," and the Persians 

 Shahasperham or " king of herbs," and Ndzbu, " having a 

 delicate odour "; it is also known in Persia as Habak- i- Kirmani, 

 ** Kirman mint," from its abundance in that province. The 



(Ocimum) of 



Mak/i 



I 



