THE BASIL 587 



leaf of the king," and denotes the basil. 1 The plant is esteemed for its 

 leaves, which serve for culinary purposes to season soups or other dishes, 

 and which have a flavor somewhat like cloves. The juice of the leaves 

 is employed medicinally. 



Indeed, as shown by our word "basil," it was under this Middle- 

 Greek name, which did not exist in the period of classical antiquity, 

 that the plant became known to the herbalists of Europe. Thus the 

 celebrated JOHN GERARDE 2 says, "The latter Grecians have called it 

 basilikon: in shops likewise Basilicum, and Regium: in Spanish Alba- 

 haca: B in French Basilic: in English Basill, Garden Basill, the greater 

 Basill royall, the lesser Basill gentle, and Bush Basill." D. REMBERT 

 DoDOENS 4 speaks of the basill royall or great basill, and says, "In this 

 countrey the Herboristes do plante it in their gardens." There is much 

 in favor of Sickenberger's supposition that the introduction of the basil 

 into Europe may be due to the returning crusaders, 5 while the Arabic 

 name adopted in Spain and Portugal suggests a Moorish transplantation 

 into western Europe. 



Two varieties are common throughout Persia and Russian Turkistan, 

 one with green and another with dark-red leaves. 6 According to 

 Avicenna, it grows in the mountains of Ispahan. 7 Abu Mansur sets 

 forth its medicinal properties. 8 It is further cultivated throughout 

 India, Malaya, and China. 9 



W. ROXBURGH 10 states that Ocimum basilicum is a native of Persia, 

 and was thence sent to the Botanic Garden at Calcutta under the 

 Persian names deban-$dh and deban-macwassi. According to W. 



, Z. f. K. Morg., Vol. VII, 1850, p. 145. Osmanli fesligen or fesliyen is 

 likewise based on the Greek word. According to the Century Dictionary, the word 

 basil is of unknown origin. The Oxford Dictionary cites from Prior, "perhaps 

 because the herb was used in some royal unguent, bath, or medicine," a baseless 

 speculation, as in fact it was never used in this way. 



2 The Herball or Generall Historic of Plantes, p. 547 (London, 1597). 



3 Also alfabega, alhabega, alabega, Portuguese alf abaca (French fabregue) , from 

 Arabic al-habak (rixani) ; the latter occurs in LECLERC, Trait6 des simples, Vol. I, 

 p. 404. 



4 Niewe Herball, translation of HENRY LYTE, p. 239 (London, 1578). 



5 Cited in ACHUNDOW, Abu Mansur, p. 211. 



6 KORZINSKI, Ocerki rastitelnosti Turkestana, p. 51. SCHLIMMER mentions the 

 two species Ocimum album and basilicum as occurring in Persia. 



7 LECLERC, Traite" des simples, Vol. Ill, p. 191. 



8 ACHUNDOW, Abu Mansur, pp. 66, 90, 103. 



9 FORBES and HEMSLEY, Journ. Linn. Soc., Vol. XXVI, p. 266; KING and 

 GAMBLE, Materials for a Flora of the Malayan Peninsula, p. 702 (Perak, Penang, 

 Malacca, perhaps only cultivated). 



10 Flora Indica, p. 464. 



