Ocimum

Os'si-mum. Aromatic herbs (rarely shrubs) comprising 150 species, the one below cultivated for its fragrant, edible foliage.

Description
Leaves opposite, mostly toothed. Flowers small, irregular, crowded in whorls grouped in branching racemes. Corolla very small, usually not exceeding the toothed calyx, the lobes or teeth recurved in fruit.

How to Grow
Sprouts quickly and easily from seeds sown indoors in warm soil about 8 weeks before last frost. Set outdoors when danger of frost is past. Sow seeds in warm soil in full sun. To rejuvenate plants, cut back to half the stem length, feed generously, and water. Where seasons are warm and long, sow again in midsummer. Prefers warm weather.

Ocimum Basilicum
Basil ; Sweet Basil . 1-2 ft. (30-60 cm) high. Leaves ovalish, 3-5 in. (7.5-12.5 cm) long. Flowers small, white or purplish. Tropical Old World. Several ornamental cultivars, including 'Dark Opal', with purple leaves; 'Spicy Globe', with very fine leaves; and 'Citriodorum', with lemon-scented leaves. Tender annual.

The botanical name for basil.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: basil
  Synonym: genus Ocimum

Ocimum
Ocimum basilicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum L.
Species
About 35 species, including: Ocimum americanum Ocimum basilicum Ocimum campechianum Ocimum fruticulosum Ocimum gratissimum Ocimum kilimandscharicum Ocimum tenuiflorum

Ocimum is a genus of about 35 species of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, mostly native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of the Old World.

Ocimum basilicum, or Sweet Basil, is a culinary herb of major importance. Most culinary and ornamental basils are cultivars of the species Ocimum basilicum, but other species are also grown and there are many hybrids between species.

Ocimum tenuiflorum (syn. O. sanctum), commonly called Holy Basil or Tulsi, is a sacred herb in India, used in teas, healing remedies, and cosmetics. The plant is worshipped as dear to Vishnu in some sects of Vaishnavism. It is also used in Thai cooking.

Thai basil, O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora, is a common ingredient in Thai cuisine with a strong flavour similar to aniseed, used to flavour curries and stir-fries.

Ocimum americanum (syn. O. canum) is a native of tropical Africa.

Ocimum × citriodorum (Lemon Basil), a hybrid between O. americanum and O. basilicum, is noted for its lemon flavour and used in cooking.

Ocimum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita malabaricus.

See also

List of basil cultivars

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