The BRITISH HERBAL. 
Gur ON, Us 
XIV, ; 
BeszAge sn Lok: > 
OF Ge View MMi Urged: 
HE. flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is hort, and fpread 
very open. The upper lip is broad, and divided into four parts: the lower lip is harrow, 
undivided, and ferrated, and is longer than the other. The cup is very fmall, and it is divided like 
the flower into two lips. 
The flower is-followed by four naked feeds, of an oval form. 
Linnzus places this among the didynamia gymnofpermia ; the flower having four threads, of which 
two are longer than the others, and the feeds ftanding in the cup without a capfule. 
1. Common Bafil. 
Ocymum vulgare. 
The root is long, divided, and furnifhed with 
numerous fibres. 
The ftalk is fquare, upright, branched, and 
eight inches high. 
The leaves are placed in pairs; and they have 
flender footftalks: they are large, oblong, mo- 
derately broad, fharply ferrated, and pointed ; 
and are of a fine green : they have a very fragrant 
and agreeable fmell, but little tafte. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks and 
branches in long, loofe fpikes: they are large, 
and of a whitifh colour, with a faint dath of 
purple. 
The feeds are fmall and oval. 
Tt is a native of the Eaft, but is common in 
our gardens. 
C. Bauhine calls it Ocymum vulgatius. Others, 
Ocymum citratum, Ocymum vulgare medium, and 
Ocymum nigrum. 
2. Great Bafil. 
Ocymum majus. 
The root is compofed of numerous, thick 
whitifh fibres. 
The ftalk is fquare, firm, upright, and two 
. feet high: it is of a purplith colour toward the 
bottom : and upwards it is of a pale green. 
The leaves are large, and of a whitifh green 
naturally ; but often ftained with purple: they 
are oblong, broad, and dented at the edges; and 
they have an extremely pleafing fmell. 
The flowers are placed upon the tops of the 
CN 
branches in a fhort, loofe fpike: they are large 
and white. 
The feeds are fmall and brown. 
It is a native of the Eaft, and flowers in Au- 
guft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Ocymum caryophyllatum ma- 
jus. Others, Ocymum magnum. 
This and the former have the fame qualities , 
but this in the greateft degree: they are ufed by 
the French and Italians in their cookery, and give 
a fine flavour to their difhes ; but in larger quan- 
tities they are ufeful againft obftru@ions of the 
vifcera, They promote the menfes, and they 
operate by urine. A fyrup of the juice is good 
alfo in afthmatick cafes, 
3. Little Bufh-Bafil. 
Ocymum minimum ramofifimum. 
The root is fmall and long, and is furrounded 
with flender fibres. 
The ftalk is {quare, fix inches high, and di- 
vided into innumerable branches. 
The leaves ftand in pairs ; and are fmall, and 
of a roundifh figure, but pointed : they are of a 
pale green, and fometimes redifh. 
The flowers are {mall and white, faintly tinged, 
fometimes with purple, fometimes entirely free 
from it: they grow from the bofoms of the leaves 
on the upper parts of the plant. 
The feeds are fmall and brown. 
It is a native of Italy, and flowers in Augutt. 
C. Bauhine calls it Ocymum minimum, 
Its virtues are the fame with the others. 
UiacS XV. 
MOLUCCA BAUM. 
MEOSCLEE TC (OC. 37. 
ee flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is fhort. 
lip is undivided, hollow, and placed erect: the lower lip is divided into three fe 
which the middle one is the longeft, and it is nippe 
The upper 
gments; of 
d at the end. The cup is formed of a fingle piece, 
and opens into a wide mouth, (vaftly larger than the flower) which is dented at the edge. The feeds 
are four after every flower : 
Linneus places this among the didynamia gymng 
fhorter threads, and the feeds having no capfule. 
they are of an irregular figure ; and they ftand naked in the cup. 
ipermia ; the flower having two longer and two 
He writes the name molucella. 
7 
1. Smooth 
