OCIMUM, a genus of plants of the order Lami acem, Lindl., Labiate, Jussieu, of which there are about 60 species. Many of them, furnishing useful products, are known to occur in the warm parts of the world.
Ocimum adseendens, O. I Son. Plectranthus Indicus, Spr.
O. Indicum, Roth. Ban-tulsi, . . BENG.
Grows in the Peninsula of India and iu Bengal. It has small, pale, rose - coloured, scentless flowers.
Ocimum basilicum, Linn., common basil, has many varieties, differing in their size, in the form and colour of their leaves, and in minor particu lars ; in their qualities they are nearly alike ; useful for condiments and perfumery. The varie ties, a, /3, y, a, are Var. (.) O. piksum, Benth.
O. basilicum, Burnt. I O. hispidulum, &hum.
0. minimum, Burm. not L. O. ciliatum, Horn.
O. hispidum, Lam. Waeilienm Indicum, Rum.
Habak, . . ARAB. I Rihan, . . . Pmts.
Babui-tulsi, . . Hum. Naz-bu, . . . . „ It grows throughout India. It has small white flowers ; the whole plant is aromatic and fragrant ; the seeds steeped in water swell into a pleasant jelly, which is demulcent and nourishing, and is used by the natives in cases of catarrh, diarrhoea, and chronic dysentery. The green leaves have a delicious smell, exactly like verbena. The dried plant prevents bugs approaching beds, etc. Tho seeds are used by women to relieve after pains.
Var. (0) O. anisatum, Beatth, sweet basil. O. basilicum, L. not Burin. i Basilicum citratum, Rum.
A native of Persia, with small white flowers, aromatic and fragrant.—Roxb. iii. p. 17.
Var. (v) O. glabratum, Benth.
O. caryophyllatum, Roxb. I O. lanceolatum, Schum. O. integernmurn, Wilkie. Gulal-tulsi, . BENG.
A native of Guinea, Bengal, and Penang. It has smallish white flowers. The whole plant is very aromatic and fragrant.—Roxb. iii. p. 15.
Var. (3) O. thyrsifiorum, L., Roxb., Jaeg.
A plant of the Peninsula of India, with small, pale pink flowers, the whole plant very aromatic and fragrant. There are other vernacular syno nyms of the above varieties, but it is not possible to discriminate the varieties indicated by them. The varieties differ considerably in their scent.
Ocimum canum, Sims., Linn.? O. album, Roxb. I 0, Americanum, Linn.
O. stamineum, B., L. O. incanescens, Mart.
Badruj abiaz, , . ARAB. Viswa tulasi, . SANER. Safaid-tulsi, . . DUKE. Cunjam koray, . . TAM. Hoary basil, . . ENG. Kukka tulasi, . . TEL. Wild mint, . . . . „ A native of the Brazils, Madagascar, E. Indies, and China ; in India, a shrub about a foot high, chiefly grown in native gardens. Flowers white ; leaves have a most pleasant aromatic taste and smell. The juice is given to children in colds to the extent of a teaspoonful twice daily. The
dried leaves are used as a substitute for tea.
Ocimum gratissimum Linn.
O. petiolare, Lam.,Bh,ee,cle. I O. Zeylanioum, BUM. Pan-jari, . . . HIND. I Itam tulsi, . . . HIND.
This is cultivated near temples. It has white or pale yellow with a very strong fragrance.—Roxb. iii. p. 17 ; Gen. Med. Top.
Ocimum mieranthum, Willde.
O. frutescens, O. Hook. O. Amoricanum,Auctorius. O. pubescons,Min.
A fragrant plant of N. America. —Voigt. Ocimum sanctum, Linn. Holy basil.
.0. hirsutum, Bent& Lumnitzera tenuiflora, Syr.
O. tomentosum, Lam. Basilicum agresto, Bumph.
O. tenuiflorum, Last. Plectranthus mona O. frutescens, Berra. chorum, Spr. Alsi-badruj, . . ARAB. Nally tirtava, MALEAL., Krishna-tulsi, . . BENG. TEL.
Kural , , Parnasa, Semen, SANER. Pein-zang-zee, . BURN. Arjaka, . • . . „ Tulsi,. . . DUKE. Kuli-mitan, . TAM., TEL.
basil, ENG. Tulsi . • . . „ „ Kala-tulsi, . . HIND. Nall; gaggeru, . TEL.
Whole plant slightly aromatic, prescribed by the Hindus in decoction in the bowel complaints of teething children. This tulsi plant is sacred to Vishnu, held in the highest veneration by all his followers ; is grown in the courtyard or parterre of almost every Vaishnava house, however small, and it is worshipped morning and evening. Its root ie made into beads, and worn round the necks' and arms of the Vaishnava Brahmans. The root of the plant is given in decoction in fevers, half a teacupful twice daily. In the Dekhan it is grown in almost every native garden, and is used for various purposes by Europeans, for flavouring sauces, wine, or vinegar. It is seen about the temples of Hindus and burial places, where it waves Its fragrant blossoms o'er their graves.' The Brahmans use it in their funeral ceremonies. The Malays also strew it over the graves of their dead. In Pegu, it is steeped in water, and drunk as a sherbet. The N. Australian variety smells like anise ; that of E. Australia is like cloves. The seeds are mucilaginous, and are used in gonorrhea. Ocimum villosum, Roxb. Woolly basil.
Pen-zeing-blung, Hoax. I Arjakarm, . . . TEL. Safaid-tulsi, . HIND. Tells gaggera chettu, „ Cultivated in gardens and near temples. An aromatic herb ; leaves used for seasonings. In all courts of justice, the Hindus are sworn by these leaves, which are placed on the palm of the hand by a Brahman, who repeats the prescribed oath, and at the termination they are masticated and swallowed. A good number of the species of this genus are used in cookery.—Roxb. ; Gen. Med. Top. ; Jaffrey; O'S71. ; Ains.; Riddell; Mason; Cat. M. Ex., 1857; Powell.