OCIMUM.] LAB I ATM. 235 



Roxb.; Fl. Ind. Hi, 15 (not of Linn). Vern. Bharbari (Beng.), Rdmtulsi 

 (Bombay). Hoary tulsi. 



An erect much-branched herb, 6-24 in. high, young parts pubescent. 

 Leaves ^-1^ in. long, elliptic-lanceolate, entire or with shallow teeth, 

 gland-dotted ; petiole |-1 in. long, slender, hairy. Spikes 3-8 in. long ; 

 whorls rather close, 6-fld. ; bracts stalked, elliptic-lanceolate, ciliate ; 

 pedicels shorter than the calyx. Calyx % in. long, pubescent ; upper 

 lip rounded, flat, reticulately veined, mucronate, ciliate ; lower lip with 

 the two central awned teeth longer than the two lateral ones and exceed- 

 ing the upper lip. Corolla white, -g- in. long, upper lip broadly oblong, 

 4-toothed at the subtruncate apex, shorter and broader than the oblong 

 obtuse lower lip. Filaments very long, the 2 upper ones toothed at the 

 base. Nutlets ellipsoid, black. 



Cultivated in Bundelkhand and probably elsewhere within the area. 

 DISTEIB. Plains and lower hills of India, also in Ceylon, Java and in 

 Trop. Africa, where by some authors it is believed to be indigenous. 

 The leaves are used medicinally. 



4. O. Basilicum, Linn. Sp. PI. 597 ; Roxb. FL Ind. Hi, 17 ; Royle III. 

 301 ; F. />'. I. iv, 608; Duthie Field and Gard. Crops N V/. Prov. and Oudh, 

 part iii t 50; WattE.D.; Prain Beng. PI. 843 ; Cooke Fl. Bomb. ii,442. 

 O. pilosum, and O. caryophyllatum, Roxb. FL lnd.iii,16.VQTn.Kdli 

 tulsi, babui tulsi Sweet Basil. 



An erect branching nerb, 2-3 ft. high, glabrous or more or less hispidly 

 pubescent. Stems and branches green or sometimes purplish. Leaves 

 1-2 in. or more long, ovate, acute, entire or more or less toothed or lobed ; 

 base cuneate, entire, petiole -1 in. long. Whorls densely racemose, the 

 terminal raceme usually much longer than the lateral ones ; bracts 

 stalked, shorter than the calyx, ovate, acute. Calyx ^ in. long, enlarging 

 in fruit, very shortly pedicelled ; lower lip with the 2 central teeth longer 

 than the rounded upper lip. Corolla in. long, white pink or purplish, 



flabrous or variously pubescent. Stamens slightly exserted, upper 

 laments toothed at the base. Nutlets about ^ in. long, ellipsoid, black 

 and pitted. 



Sweet Basil is much grown in native gardens within this area, and is some- 

 times met with as if wild. DISTRIB. Dr Aitchison considered, it to be 

 truly indigenous on the lower hills of the Punjab. It is cultivated 

 throughout the greater part of India and in Ceylon, also in Burma and 

 generally within the tropics of the E. Hemisphere and in Polynesia. 

 0- Basilicum is a more robust plant than 0. canum and has much larger 

 flowers and seeds. There are numerous varieties, differing from one 

 another as to the degree of hairiness and in the colour of their stems 

 and flowers. The form usually regarded as typical has quite smooth 

 green leaves and white flowers. The plant is strongly aromatic and is 

 much used by the natives as a flavouring ingredient. The seeds swell 

 up in water and form a jelly which is employed medicinally. 



