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Ocimum tenuiflorum, commonly known as holy basil, tulasi or tulsi (from Sanskrit), is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. [2] [3] It is widely cultivated throughout the Southeast Asian tropics. [1] [4] [5] It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Australia and the western Pacific. [1]
The name "basil" comes from the Latin basilius, and the Greek βασιλικόν φυτόν (basilikón phytón), meaning "royal/kingly plant", possibly because the plant was believed to have been used in production of royal perfumes. [21] Basil is likewise sometimes referred to in French as "l'herbe royale" ('the royal herb'). [22]
[citation needed] Lemon basil (Ocimum × citriodorum) is a hybrid between O. americanum and O. basilicum. It is noted for its lemon flavour and used in cooking. [citation needed] Holy basil or tulsi (O. tenuiflorum) is a sacred herb revered as dear to Vishnu in some sects of Vaishnavism.
Basil cultivars vary in several ways. Visually, the size and shape of the leaves varies greatly, from the large lettuce-like leaves of the Mammoth basil and Lettuce leaf basil to the tiny leaves of the Dwarf bush basil. More practically, the fragrance of the basil varies due to the varying types and quantities of essential oils contained in the ...
Ocimum tenuifolium (known as Holy basil in English, and Tulasi in Sanskrit), is a well known aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae. Apart from its culinary uses, for which it is known across the world, it is also used as a medicinal plant, and has an important role within many traditions of Hinduism , wherein devotees perform worship involving ...
The Greek basil and various other basils have such different scents because the herb has a number of different essential oils in different proportions for various cultivars. [4] The essential oil from European basil contains high concentrations of linalool and methyl chavicol (estragole), in a ratio of about 3:1.
Basil seeds are relatively inexpensive to produce, and they can be grown in a variety of climates. The main challenge in basil seed production is the need for a consistent supply of water. Basil seeds are sensitive to drought, and they will not germinate if the soil is too dry. The average yield of basil seeds is about 1,000 pounds per acre.
It is derived from "basileus" (Greek: βασιλεύς), a Greek word of pre-Hellenic origin, meaning "king", from which words such as basilica and basilisk (via Latin) as well as the eponymous herb basil (via Old French) derive, and the name of the Italian region Basilicata, which had been long under the rule of the Byzantine Emperor (also ...