- Family: Lamiaceae Martinov
- Genus: Ocimum L.
Ocimum tenuiflorum L.
- Genus: Ocimum L.
Ocimum tenuiflorum is closely related to culinary basil (Ocimum basilicum), but differs in being a short-lived perennial with smaller flowers. Commonly known as holy basil or tulsi and tulasi in South Asia, it is an important sacred plant in Hinduism and, as with many plant species used in Asia, the religious uses are often linked with the medicinal uses. Historically, holy basil was frequently grown in large vessels in the courtyards of Hindu forts and temples to cleanse the body. One of the plant's synonyms, Ocimum sanctum, reflects this religious connection.
[FTEA]
Lamiaceae (Labiatae), A.J. Paton, G. Bramley, O. Ryding, R.M. Polhill, Y.B. Harvey, M. Iwarsson, F. Willis, P.B. Phillipson, K. Balkwill, C.W. Lukhoba, D.F. Otieno, & R.M. Harley. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009
- Type
- Lectotype, see Paton, loc. cit. (1992): cultivated in Sweden, Uppsala, Linnean Herbarium 749.13 (LINN!, lecto.)
- Habit
- Aromatic herb or woody herb to 1 m tall
- Stem
- Stems erect, branched, woody at base; indumentum of patent hairs
- Leaves
- Leaves petiolate; blade broadly elliptical, 1.5–3.3 × 1.1–2 cm, serrate, apex obtuse, base cuneate, with an indumentum of short, appressed hairs; petiole 7–15 mm long
- Inflorescences
- Inflorescence lax; pedicels in fruit 3–4 mm long, spreading
- Calyx
- Calyx 1(–3 in fruit) mm long; throat open and glabrous
- Corolla
- Corolla pink or white, 3 mm long; tube ± parallel-sided
- Stamens
- Posterior stamens ciliate, cilia concentrated on one side of the filament near base
- Fruits
- Nutlets brown, ovoid, ± 1 mm long, producing small amounts of mucilage when wet.
- Ecology
- Degraded bushland; 20 m
- Conservation
- Least concern (LC); widespread
- Distribution
- Range: Cultivated in Tanzania and probably throughout East Africa, native in India and Malaysia. Used for making tea Flora districts: K7
[KSP]
Kew Species Profiles
- General Description
-
Holy basil is an important medicinal and religious plant closely related to the basil we use for cooking.
Ocimum tenuiflorum is closely related to culinary basil (Ocimum basilicum), but differs in being a short-lived perennial with smaller flowers. Commonly known as holy basil or tulsi and tulasi in South Asia, it is an important sacred plant in Hinduism and, as with many plant species used in Asia, the religious uses are often linked with the medicinal uses. Historically, holy basil was frequently grown in large vessels in the courtyards of Hindu forts and temples to cleanse the body. One of the plant's synonyms, Ocimum sanctum, reflects this religious connection.
- Species Profile
-
Geography and distribution
Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, and cultivated and naturalised in other tropical areas.
DescriptionHoly basil is an aromatic, perennial herb up to 1 m tall, sometimes purplish in colour. The leaves are elliptic (narrow oval) in shape. The fruits have four small brown nutlets, which, unlike basil, do not produce a lot of mucilage when wet.
UsesRegarded as sacred in Hinduism, Ocimum tenuiflorum has many traditional medicinal uses. A mixture of leaves and seeds, with black pepper ( Piper nigrum ) is given to pregnant women suffering from malaria. Fresh flowers are used to treat coughs and colds. The plant has shown promise in clinical trials in alleviating hepatic dysfunction, and is an ingredient of pills and ointment to cure eczema. The essential oil from some populations of holy basil contains high levels of eugenol. In traditional Thai medicine, the leaf or whole plant is used to alleviate nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and flatulence. Alcohol extracts from the plant heal peptic ulcers.
The leaf extract is effective in checking the spread of the fungal pathogens Pyricularia oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani , which cause blast disease and sheath blight disease of rice. Antibacterial activity and deterrent against the larvae of root knot nematode ( Meloidogyne incognita ) have been reported, and the oil is a mosquito repellent.
Ocimum tenuiflorum is used as a major flavouring ingredient in Thai cuisine. Because it is regarded as sacred in Hinduism, it is used to make rosaries - the woody stems are used to make the beads.
Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storageKew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.
Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: One
Germination testing: Successful
CultivationA native of South Asia, it can be grown in pots in the UK, but is not frost-hardy.
- Ecology
- Cultivated
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Hazards
-
Applications to the skin can cause reactions in sensitive people.
[CPLC]
Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co
- Distribution
- Naturalizada y adventicia en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1500 m.; Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Pacífico, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.
- Habit
- Hierba, subarbusto
- Conservation
- No Evaluada
>
Native to:
Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Pakistan, Philippines, Queensland, Solomon Is., South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Himalaya
Introduced into:
Bahamas, Cayman Is., Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Niue, Samoa, Society Is., Southwest Caribbean, Tokelau-Manihiki, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Is., Zambia
- Geniosporum tenuiflorum (L.) Merr.
- Lumnitzera tenuiflora (L.) Spreng.
- Moschosma tenuiflorum (L.) Heynh.
- Ocimum hirsutum Benth.
- Ocimum inodorum Burm.f.
- Ocimum monachorum L.
- Ocimum sanctum L.
- Ocimum sanctum var. cubensis Gomes
- Ocimum sanctum var. hirsutum (Benth.) Hook.f.
- Ocimum scutellarioides Willd. ex Benth.
- Ocimum subserratum B.Heyne ex Hook.f.
- Ocimum tenuiflorum f. villicaulis Domin
- Ocimum tomentosum Lam.
- Ocimum villosum Roxb.
- Plectranthus monachorum (L.) Spreng.
- English
- Holy basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum L. appears in other Kew resources:
Date | Reference | Identified As | Barcode | Type Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 1, 2000 | Matamin Rumutom [337], Malaysia | K000897273 | ||
Jan 1, 1999 | Powell, D.A. [XI1351], Australia | K000897253 | ||
Jan 1, 1999 | Powell, D.A. [XI1351], Australia | K000897252 | ||
Jan 1, 1999 | Bloembergen, S. [3224], Indonesia | K000897264 | ||
Jul 1, 1997 | Andau, D. [19], Malaysia | K000897275 | ||
Jul 1, 1997 | Tadong, D. [137], Malaysia | K000897279 | ||
Jul 1, 1997 | Tadong, D. [277], Malaysia | K000897277 | ||
Jul 1, 1997 | Tadong, D. [570], Malaysia | K000897276 | ||
Jul 1, 1997 | Tadong, L. [80], Malaysia | K000897278 | ||
Jan 1, 1994 | Luke, W.R.Q. [3840], Kenya | K000434797 | ||
Aug 24, 1989 | Mamit, J.D. [34564], Malaysia | K000897270 | ||
Nov 18, 1988 | Harini [075], Indonesia | K000897291 | ||
Carr, C.E. [11605], Papua New Guinea | K000897213 | |||
Keith, H.G. [7394], Malaysia | K000897285 | |||
Keith, H.G. [1611], Malaysia | K000897283 | |||
Haviland, G.D. [3051], Malaysia | K000897281 | |||
Burbidge, F.W. [s.n.], Philippines | K000897241 | |||
Loher, A. [4222], Philippines | K000897240 | |||
Loher, A. [4221], Philippines | K000897237 | |||
Loher, A. [4220], Philippines | K000897234 | |||
Koorders, S.H. [27453], Indonesia | K000897293 | |||
Koorders, S.H. [26206], Indonesia | K000897292 | |||
Vidal, S. [3480], Philippines | K000897227 | |||
Wiakabu, J. [LAE73562], Papua New Guinea | K000897211 | |||
Hellwig, F. [94], Papua New Guinea | K000897212 | |||
Eyma, P.J. [1748], Indonesia | K000897259 | |||
Buwalda, P. [4051], Indonesia | K000897262 | |||
Buwalda, P. [4976], Indonesia | K000897261 | |||
Horsfield, T. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897288 | |||
Meyer, A.B. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897258 | |||
Meyer, A.B. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897254 | |||
Creagh, C.M.G. [s.n.], Malaysia | K000897280 | |||
Lütjeharms, W.J. [4922], Indonesia | K000897289 | |||
Fraser, M. [254], Malaysia | K000897284 | |||
Fraser, M. [223], Malaysia | K000897272 | |||
Moseley, H.N. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897256 | |||
Moseley, H.N. [s.n.], Philippines | K000897236 | |||
Pleyte, D.R. [150], Indonesia | K000897260 | |||
Aet [525], Indonesia | K000897215 | |||
Taylor, P.M. [507], Indonesia | K000897251 | |||
Goklin, T. [2552], Malaysia | K000897282 | |||
Wallich, N. [s.n.] | K000911680 | Unknown type material | ||
Reynoso, E. [1463], Philippines | K000897229 | |||
Conklin, H.C. [37857], Philippines | K000897230 | |||
Savinierre, E. de la [340], Indonesia | K000897255 | |||
Branderhorst, B. [50], Indonesia | K000897214 | |||
Usteri, P.A. [2820], Philippines | K000897233 | |||
Wallace, A.R. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897257 | |||
Jones, B.L. [472], Malaysia | K000897274 | |||
Enoh, M. [382], Indonesia | K000897271 | |||
Gaerlan, F. [3080], Philippines | K000897228 | |||
Cuming, H. [1779], Philippines | K000897238 | |||
Cuming, H. [2433], Indonesia | K000897216 | |||
Wight [s.n.], India | K000911681 | |||
Yii, P.C. [60625], Malaysia | K000897269 | |||
Yii, P.C. [63290], Malaysia | K000897268 | |||
Yii, P.C. [62838], Malaysia | K000897267 | |||
Merrill, E.D. [400], Philippines | K000897232 | |||
Teruya, Z. [1763], Indonesia | K000897263 | |||
Gregory, V.B. [57], Philippines | K000897231 | |||
Kadir [A929], Malaysia | K000897286 | |||
Achmad [305], Indonesia | K000897294 | |||
Ambri [1240], Indonesia | K000897266 | |||
Ambri [1241], Indonesia | K000897265 | |||
s.coll. [s.n.], Indonesia | K000897290 | |||
s.coll. [3474], Philippines | K000897235 | |||
Daernedi, D. [690], Indonesia | K000897250 | |||
Teruya, E. [1658], Indonesia | K000897287 | |||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2717], India | Ocimum hirsutum | K001116921 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2717], India | Ocimum hirsutum | K001116922 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2717], India | Ocimum hirsutum | K001116923 | Unknown type material | |
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2717] | Ocimum hirsutum | K001116924 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2717], India | Ocimum hirsutum | K001116925 | ||
Jan 1, 1964 | Thomson, G. [68], Singapore | Ocimum sanctum | K000897338 | |
India | Ocimum sanctum | 33715.000 | ||
Carrick, J. [1504], Malaysia | Ocimum sanctum | K000897340 | ||
Teo, L.E. [562], Malaysia | Ocimum sanctum | K000897341 | ||
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 2716], Myanmar | Ocimum sanctum | K001116909 | ||
Yapp, R.H. [298], Malaysia | Ocimum sanctum | K000897339 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116910 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116911 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116912 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116913 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116914 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116915 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116916 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116917 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116918 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116919 | ||
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2716] | Ocimum sanctum | K001116920 | ||
Bally, P.R.O. [15966], Somalia | Ocimum tomentosum | 52044.000 | ||
Gilbert | Ocimum tomentosum | 60210.000 |
First published in Sp. Pl.: 597 (1753)
Accepted by
- Balkrishna, A. (2018). Flora of Morni Hills (Research & Possibilities): 1-581. Divya Yoga Mandir Trust.
- Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots' Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.
- Bernal, R., Gradstein, R.S. & Celis, M. (eds.) (2016). Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia 1-2: 1-3068. Libro impreso.
- Sykes, W.R. (2016). Flora of the Cook Islands: 1-973. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii.
- Paton, A.J., Bramley, G., Ryding, O., Polhill, R.M., Harvey, Y.B., Iwarsson, M., Otieno, D., Balkwill, K., Phillipson, P.B., Harley, R.M. & Willis, F. (2013). Flora Zambesiaca 8(8): 1-346. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Manikandan, R., Chandrasekar, K. & Srivastava, S.K. (2012). Life form analysis of the family Lamiaceae in Jammu & Kashmir, India Phytotaxonomy 12: 7-19.
- Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
- Paton, A.J., Bramley, G., Ryding, O., Polhill, R., Harvey, Y., Iwarsson, M., Willis, F., Phillipson, P., Balkwill, K., Lukhoba, C., Otiend, D & Harley (2009). Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-430.
- Khanam, M. & Hassan, M.A. (2008). Lamiaceae Flora of Bangladesh 58: 1-161. Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka.
- Hokche, O., Berry, P.E. & Huber, O. (eds.) (2008). Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela: 1-859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela.
- National Parks Board Singapore (2006). Vascular Plant Life Checklist Pulau Ubin www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/cms/cmsmgr/data/6/PlantChkList.xls.
- Suddee, S., Paton, A.J. & Parnell, J.A.N. (2005). Taxonomic Revision of the tribe Ocimeae Dumort (Lamiaceae) in continental South East Asia III. Ociminae Kew Bulletin 60: 3-75.
- Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Welsh, S.L. (1998). Flora Societensis: 1-420. E.P.S. Inc. Utah.
- Smith, A.C. (1991). Flora Vitiensis Nova. A new flora for Fiji (Spermatophytes only) 5: 1-626. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai.
Literature
Kew Species Profiles
- Mabberley, D.J. (2008). Mabberley’s Plant-Book: A Portable Dictionary of Plants, their Classification and Uses, 3rd Ed. Cambridge University Press.
- National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (CSIR) (2003). The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. First Supplement Series (Raw Materials), Vol. 4: J-Q. CSIR, New Delhi.
- Promjit Saralamp, Wongsatit Chuakul, Rungravi Temsiririrkkul & Clayton, T. (1996). Medicinal Plants in Thailand Vol. 1. Dept. of Pharmaceutical Botany, Mahidol University, Bangkok.
Kew Backbone Distributions
- (2020). file:///C:/Users/rg02kg/Downloads/7790-19423-1-PB.pdf epublication.
- Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots' Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.
- Bernal, R., Gradstein, R.S. & Celis, M. (eds.) (2016). Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia 1-2: 1-3068. Libro impreso.
- Sykes, W.R. (2016). Flora of the Cook Islands: 1-973. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii.
- Paton, A.J., Bramley, G., Ryding, O., Polhill, R.M., Harvey, Y.B., Iwarsson, M., Otieno, D., Balkwill, K., Phillipson, P.B., Harley, R.M. & Willis, F. (2013). Flora Zambesiaca 8(8): 1-346. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Manikandan, R., Chandrasekar, K. & Srivastava, S.K. (2012). Life form analysis of the family Lamiaceae in Jammu & Kashmir, India Phytotaxonomy 12: 7-19.
- Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
- Paton, A.J., Bramley, G., Ryding, O., Polhill, R., Harvey, Y., Iwarsson, M., Willis, F., Phillipson, P., Balkwill, K., Lukhoba, C., Otiend, D & Harley (2009). Lamiaceae (Labiatae) Flora of Tropical East Africa: 1-430.
- Khanam, M. & Hassan, M.A. (2008). Lamiaceae Flora of Bangladesh 58: 1-161. Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka.
- Hokche, O., Berry, P.E. & Huber, O. (eds.) (2008). Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela: 1-859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela.
- Welsh, S.L. (1998). Flora Societensis: 1-420. E.P.S. Inc. Utah.
- Gonzalez, F., Nelson Diaz, J. & Lowry, P. (1995). Flora Illustrada de San Andrés y Providencia: 1-281. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Colombia.
- Sykes, W.R. (1970). Contributions to the flora of Niue Bulletin, New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research 200: 1-321.
Flora of Tropical East Africa
- K.B. 47: 432 (1992)
- K.B. 47: 432 (1992).
- Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Bot.)19: 113 (1989)
- Sp. Pl.: 597 (1753)
Art and Illustrations in Digifolia
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Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia
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Flora of Tropical East Africa
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© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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