382 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
GENUS XIV, 
BASIL. 
0 C r M U M. 
rpHE flower Is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is Ihort, and fpread 
very open. The upper lip is broad, and divided into four parts: the lower lip is narrow, 
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. 
Linna:us places this among the didynamia gymnofpermia ; the flower having four threads, of which 
two are longer than the others, and the feeds Handing in the cup without a ca]ifule. 
I. Common Bafil. 
Ocymum vulgare. 
The root is long, divided, and furnillied with 
numerous fibres. 
The flalk is fquare, upright, branched, and 
eight inches high. 
The leaves are placed in pairs ; and they have 
flender footflialks : they are large, oblong, mo- 
derately broad, fliarply ferrated, and pointed ; 
and are of a fine green : they have a very fragrant 
and agreeable fmell, but little tafl:e. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the fl:alks and 
branches in long, loofe fpikcs ; they are large, 
and of a whitilh colour, with a faint dalh of 
purple. 
The feeds are fmall and oval. 
It is a native of the Eafl, but is common in 
our gardens. 
C. Bauhine calls It Ocymum vulgatius. Others, 
Ocymum citratunij Ocymum vulgare medium^ and 
Ocymum nigrum. 
2. Great Bafil. 
Ocymum mnjusi 
The root is compofcd of numerous, thick 
whitifli fibres. 
The ftalk is fquare, firm, upright, and two 
feet high : it is of a purplifli colour toward the 
bottom : and upwards it is of a pale green. 
The leaves are large, and of a whitilh green 
naturally ; but often ftained with purple : they 
are oblong, broad, and dented at the edges j and 
they have an extremely pleafing fmell. 
The flowers are placed upon the tops of the 
branches in a fliort, loofe fpike : they are larcre 
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 caryophyllalum ma- 
jus. Others, Ocymum magnum. 
This and the former have the fame qualities - 
but this in the greateft degree : they are ufcd by 
the French and Italians in their cookery, and give 
a fine flavour to their dilhes ; but in larger quan- 
tities they are ufeful againft obftruftions of the 
vifcera. They promute the menfes, and they 
operate by urine. A lyrup of the juice is good 
alio in afthmatick cafes. 
3. Little Bufli-Bafil. 
Ocymum minimum ramcjijjimmn. 
The root is fmall and long, and is furrounded 
with flender fibres. 
The ftalk is fquare, fix inches high, and di- 
vided into innumerable branches. 
The leaves ftand in pairs ; and are finall, and 
of a roundifli figure, but pointed : they are of a 
pale green, and fometimes redifli. 
The flowers are fmall 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 Au<Juft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Ocymum minimum. 
Its virtues are the fame with the others. 
GENUS XV. 
MOLUCCA BAUM. 
M O L V C C A. 
rpHE flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is fliort. The upper 
A hp IS undivided, hollow, and placed ereft : the lower lip is divided into three fegments of 
which the middle one is the longeft, and it is nipped at the end. The cup is formed of a finale 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 : they are of an irregular figure ; and they ftand naked in the cup. 
Linnaeus- places this among the didynamia gymmfptrmia; the flower having two longer and two 
(hotter threads, and the feeds having no capfule. He writes the name mokcella. 
1. Sm:.otli 
