Lamiaceae
Basilicum

Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench

First published in Suppl. Meth.: 143 (1802)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical & S. Africa, W. Indian Ocean, Tropical & Subtropical Asia to N. Australia. It is an annual or subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Distribution

Native to:

Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China Southeast, Comoros, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maluku, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Is., Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Western Australia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Caroline Is.

Synonyms

Homotypic Synonyms

Heterotypic Synonyms

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Bramley, G.L.C. & al. (eds.) in Ridley, H.N. (2022). Flora of the Malay Peninsula, ser. II, 9: 1-301. Authority of teh Government of the Straits Settlements.
  • Bramley, G.L.C. (2019). Flora Malesiana 23: 1-444. Noordhoff-Kolff N.V., Djakarta.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Calane da Silva, M., Izdine, S. & Amuse, A.B. (2004). A Preliminary Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Mozambique: 1-184. SABONET, Pretoria.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.
  • Govaerts, R. (1996). World Checklist of Seed Plants 2(1, 2): 1-492. MIM, Deurne.
  • Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Hedberg, I., Kelbessa, E., Edwards, S., Demissew, S. & Persson, E. (eds.) (2006). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 5: 1-690. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Khanam, M. & Hassan, M.A. (2008). Lamiaceae. Flora of Bangladesh 58: 1-161. Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lebrun, J.P., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo). Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • 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.
  • Thulin, M. (ed.) (2006). Flora of Somalia 3: 1-626. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Bramley, G.L.C. (2019). Flora Malesiana 23: 1-444. Noordhoff-Kolff N.V., Djakarta.
  • Brunel, J.F., Hiepo, P. & Scholz, H. (eds.) (1984). Flore Analytique du Togo Phanérogames: 1-751. GTZ, Eschborn.
  • Calane da Silva, M., Izdine, S. & Amuse, A.B. (2004). A Preliminary Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Mozambique: 1-184. SABONET, Pretoria.
  • Fosberg, F.R., Sachet, M.-H., Oliver, R. (1979). A geographical checklist of the Micronesian Dicotyledonae. Micronesica; Journal of the College of Guam 15: 41-295.
  • Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.
  • Khanam, M. & Hassan, M.A. (2008). Lamiaceae. Flora of Bangladesh 58: 1-161. Bangladesh National Herbarium, Dhaka.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lebrun, J.-P., Audru, J., Gaston, A. & Mosnier, M. (1972). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Tchad Méridional: 1-289. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Lebrun, J.P., Toutain, B., Gaston, A. & Boudet, G. (1991). Catalogue des Plantes Vasculaires du Burkina Faso: 1-341. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, (2000) Author: by O. Ryding [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • F.P.S. 3: 205 (1956)
  • F.W.T.A., ed. 2: 454 (1962)
  • Fl. Eth. 5: 581 (2006)
  • Fl. Somalia 3: 346 (2006)
  • J.L.S. 58: 238 (1962)
  • Suppl. Meth. Pl.: 143 (1802) as B. polystachion

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
May 16, 2013 Mwangoka, M.A. [5710] Tanzania K000735939 No
Sep 26, 2006 Ezrom, P. [61] Tanzania K000194866 No
Jan 1, 1999 Haniff, M.; Nur, M. [4203] Thailand K000935525 Yes
Jan 1, 1999 Petelot [283] Vietnam K000935521 No
Jan 1, 1999 Kerr, A.F.G. [4366] Thailand K000935524 Yes
Jan 1, 1999 Kerr, A.F.G. [2739] Thailand K000935523 Yes
Jan 1, 1999 Balansa, B. [4385] Vietnam K000935522 Yes
Mar 21, 1996 Darbyshire, P.J. [808] Papua New Guinea K000888356 No
Mar 1, 1964 Gwynne Vaughan, D.T. [288] Malaysia K000888365 No
Jun 1, 1936 Swynnerton, C.F.M. [1970] Mozambique K000347239 Unknown Type Material Yes
Edaño, G.E. [17972] Philippines K000888358 No
Ridley, H.N. [14928] Malaysia K000888366 No
Gjellerup, K. [356] Papua New Guinea K000888352 No
Welwitsch [5547] Angola K001008839 Yes
Merrill, E.D. [423] Philippines K000888363 No
Welwitsch [5582] Angola K001008838 Yes
Sinclair, J. [39372] Malaysia K000888364 No
Versteeg, G. [1938] Indonesia K000888354 No
Horsfield, T. [s.n.] Indonesia K000888374 No
Whitehead, J.C.; Flenley, J.R. [180] Indonesia K000888375 No
Royen, P., van [4580] Indonesia K000888355 No
Blackwood, B. [329] Papua New Guinea K000888351 No
Koorders, S.H. [21550] Indonesia K000888373 No
s.coll. [31] Philippines K000888357 No
Ridley, H.N. [14930] Malaysia K000888367 No
Teijsmann, J.E. [732] Indonesia K000888368 No
Wallace, A.R. [s.n.] Indonesia K000888369 No
Reinwardt, C.G.C. [s.n.] Indonesia K000888371 No
Loher, A. [4214] Philippines K000888361 No
Reekmans, M. [8417] Burundi K000509482 Yes
Gjellerup, K. [998] Indonesia K000888353 No
s.coll. [s.n.] Indonesia K000888372 No
Cuming, H. [478] Philippines K000888360 No
Kotschy [164] Sudan K000347238 Unknown Type Material Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Philippines K000888359 No
Ramos, M. [41645] Philippines K000888362 No
Bakhuizen van den Brink, R.C. [1940] Indonesia K000888370 No
Couderc, P. [s.n.] Vietnam K000935526 Yes
Gossweiler, J. [237] Angola K001008837 Yes
Mathew, B. [6392] Kenya K:SPC-06049.216 No
Jan 1, 1913 Hornton, G. [s.n.] India Moschosma polystachyon K005415225 Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2711] India Moschosma polystachyon K001116883 Unknown Type Material Yes
Gomez, W. [Cat. no. 2711] Burma Moschosma polystachyon K001116882 Unknown Type Material Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2711] Moschosma polystachyon K001116884 Unknown Type Material Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 2711] Burma Moschosma polystachyon K001116880 Unknown Type Material Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 2711] Burma Moschosma polystachyon K001116881 Unknown Type Material Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2711] India Moschosma polystachyon K001116885 Unknown Type Material Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 2711] Moschosma polystachyon K001116879 Unknown Type Material Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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 Bulletin

    • Kew Bulletin
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images