Lamiaceae
Ocimum

Ocimum pyramidatum (A.J.Paton) A.J.Paton

First published in R.Hiltunen & Y.Holm (eds.), Basil: 34 (1999)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is W. Tanzania. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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
Type: Tanzania, Mpanda District: Silkcub Highlands, Richards 7127 (K!, holo.)
Morphology General Habit
Aromatic perennial herb with several stems arising from a woody rootstock, 0.6–1 m tall
Morphology Stem
Stems erect, quadrangular, branching above, pubescent, sometimes densely so, with appressed hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ternate, very rarely opposite, usually ascending, more rarely with some spreading; blade elliptic 3.5–6 × 1–2.4 cm, frequently folded along midrib, deflexed, entire, weakly revolute or thickened at margin, apex acute or obtuse, base cuneate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent with hairs confined to veins beneath; petiole 4–6 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence condensed, with 6–9-flowered verticils touching in flower and 10–15 mm apart in fruit; bracts subulate, 2 mm long, erect above and forming an inconspicuous apical coma, soon deciduous, the scar developing into a bowl-shaped nectary; pedicels 2 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 5–7 mm long in flower, sparsely pubescent and with sessile glands; posterior lip obovate, ciliate; lateral lobes of anterior lip truncate, densely ciliate, median lobes subulate-aristate; fruiting calyx ± 10 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white or pale lilac, 9–13 mm long; tube 5–8 mm long, slightly curved, dorsally gibbous, abruptly dilated at throat; lobes of posterior lip toothed or sinuate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens exserted 10–20 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Nutlets pale brown, broadly obovoid, 2 mm long, smooth, producing a small amount of mucilage when wet.
Ecology
Grasssland or open Brachystegia woodland; 1050–1600 m
Conservation
Restricted in distribution but habitat probably not in decline.
Note
O. pyramidatum is related to O. decumbens, O. vandenbrandii (Ayob.) A.J. Paton (from the Marungu Mts, on the other side of Lake Tanganyika in the Katanga) and O. urundense on account of the folded and deflexed leaf apex. This species is probably closest to O. urundense or O. vandenbrandii, which also have weakly revolute leaves.
Distribution
Range: Not known elsewhere Flora districts: T4
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0