234 LABIATE. [ OCIMUM. 



For. Fl. 272 ; Train Beng. PL 843 ; Cooke PL Bomb, ii, 440. Vern. 

 Tulsi, krishna tulsi. Holy Basil. 



A much-branched herb, 1-2 ft. high, sometimes woody at the base ; stems 

 and branches clothed with soft spreading hairs. Leaves 1-2 in. long, 

 oblong or elliptic-oblong, obtuse or acute, entire or sabserrate, hairy 

 on both surfaces and minutely dotted, petioles |-1 in. long. Racemes 

 slender, 6-8 in. long ; bracts not exceeding the calyx, broadly ovate or 

 cordate-ovate, acuminate, ciliate ; pedicels slender, as long as or longer 

 than the calyx. Calyx %-% in. long, elongating in fruit ; upper lip 

 much reflexed, broadly obovate, apiculate ; lower lip exceeding the 

 upper, the two central teeth with long slender awns which curve up* 

 wards beyond the upper ; the two lateral teeth with short straight 

 awns. Corolla % in. long, purplish-pink, upper lip hairy on the back. 

 Filaments of upper pair of stamens with a small bearded appendage 

 at the base. Nutlets broadly ellipsoid, smooth, yellow dotted with black. 



Much cultivated within the area by Hindus, and often occurring as if 

 wild. This is one of their most sacred plants and is to be found in every 

 Hindu garden and around their temples. DISTRIB. Throughout 

 India and in Ceylon, and up to 6,000 ft. on the Himalaya, extending 

 also from W. Asia and Arabia to the Malay Islands and Australia. 

 Native country uncertain. Beads for rosaries are made from the 

 woody stems, and all parts of the plant are used medicinally. 



2, O. gratissimum, Linn. Sp. PL 1197 ; Roxb. FL Ind. Hi, 17 ; F.B. I 

 iv., 608 ; Watt E. D. ; Prain Beng. PL 843 ; Coolte Fl. Bomb, ii, 441. -Vern. 

 Ram tulsi. Shrubby Basil. 



A much branched shrub, 4-6 ft. high, young branches pubescent. Leaves 

 2^-5 in. long, elliptic-lanceolate, acute, coarsely crenate or serrate, pubes- 

 cent and gland-dotted on both sides, base cuneate ; petioles l-2 in., 

 slender, pubescent. Racemes rather short, simple or branched, rhachis 

 softly pubescent ; bracts sessile, longer than the calyx, broadly ovate, 

 acuminate, ciliate ; pedicels softly hairy, shorter than the calyx. Calyx 

 % in. long, elongating in fruit, pubescent and glandular ; upper lip 

 longer than lower one, rounded and curved upwards iu fruit ; lower lip 

 strongly nerved, shortly toothed, the two central subulate ones a little 

 longer than the broadly lanceolate lateral ones. Corolla % in. long, 

 greenish-yellow, hairy outside ; upper lip f- in. broad, teeth rounded ; 

 lower lip longer and narrower. Filaments of upper pair of stamens 

 with a bearded appendage at the base. Nutlets subglobose, brown, 

 rugose. 



Cultivated within the area and apparently wild in Merwara. 

 DISTRIB. Throughout India, in Ceylon and Java ; found also in Trop. 

 Africa, but its native country is not known for certain. The leaves 

 and seeds are used medicinally. 



3. O. canum, Sims in Bot. Mag. 2452 ; Koyle HI. 301 ; F. B. 1. iv, 607 ; 

 Watt E. D.; Prain Beng. PL 843; Cooke Fl. Bomb, ii, 440. O. album, 



