Ocimum basilicum

• Botanical Name : Ocimum basilicum L.
• Common Name : Damro, Sweet Basil, Ram Tulsi
• Plant Family : Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

• According to the Rules of ICBN the names of the families should end in -aceae. Thus the new name for the family Labiatae became Lamiaceae. However, the name Labiatae is also exempted and conserved under 'Nomina Conservanda' because of their constant use for a long time.

• Plant Form : Herb
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 5, 9, 15, 17, 28-30
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park, Van Chetana Kendra, Aranya Van

About Ocimum basilicum Plant :

• Habit : A small herb, much branched with square stem, purple, hairy.
• Leaves : Opposite, ovate acute gland-dotted.
• Inflorescence : Verticillaster
• Flowers :
  • 6 flower whorls, bracteates, bracts stalked, ovate, hairy.
  • Calyx bilabiate, hairy.
  • Corolla bilabiate, pink or purple with long white hairs.
  • Stamens 4, didynamous.
  • Ovary bicarpellary, 4-celled, deeply 4-lobed, style gynobasic, stigma bifid.
• Fruit : Nutlets 4 with persistent calyx.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : August - November
• Significance :
  • It is commonly cultivated in the gardens by the malis and extensively used by them in garlands, etc.
  • The seeds are very mucilaginous and cooling used in chronic dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea and to prepare Faluda.