60 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



BASIL.— OCIMUM. 



Natural order, Verticillata, A genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymnospermia class. 



Fabulous history informs us that this plant 

 originated from the death of Ocimus, who 

 first ordained the combats in honour of Pallas, 

 and being killed by Cyclodemas, a famous 

 gladiator, was immediately metamorphosed 

 into the plant which bears his name. 



The Greeks, who seldom gave names to 

 plants without an appropriate meaning, called 

 it axifjLQV ab wkvs, quia cito crescit, from the 

 speedy springing of the seed, which is usually 

 within three or four days, if the weather be 

 hot and dry. It was also called Basilicum, 

 from Bac-itevs, rex, a king, from which the 

 English name is derived, and whence also it 

 is styled a royal plant. 



The difficulty of overcoming superstitious 

 prejudices is fully exemplified in this fra- 

 grant herb. It was an opinion among the 

 ancients, that if basil was pounded and put 



