Ocimum tenuiflorum
Content
Description
Erect, much branched herb, 30-60 cm, often woody at the base.
Leaves membranaceous, elliptic-oblong or elliptic, 3-6 by 1-2.5 cm, obtuse or acute, base cuneate or attenuate, entire;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical, Pantropical present, tropical Asia
Pantropical, possibly a native of tropical Asia, throughout Malesia.
Uses
According to HEYNE () not used as a vegetable, sometimes as a condiment, and with some minor medicinal applications: cold with children, healing wounds, promoting lactation in women, a decoction of seeds said to be a demulcent. Seeds used for cleansing eyes. In Sumatra used with ceremonial offerings to spirits. In the Philippines said that a decoction of leaves is used for aromatic baths and as a remedy against gonorrhoea. In Malaya used against rheumatism.
Notes
BENTHAM (1848) and MERRILL (1917) were well aware of the fact that O. sanctum and O. tenuiflorum are not distinct; DOMIN (1929) finally drew the nomenclatural consequence.
The commonest form has a purple calyx and corolla, other forms have a green calyx and purple corolla, still others have a green calyx and white corolla.
The commonest form has a purple calyx and corolla, other forms have a green calyx and purple corolla, still others have a green calyx and white corolla.
Citation
LINNE 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 334
Bl. 1823: Cat.: 83
THUNB. 1825: Fl. Jav.: 15
BLANCO 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 335
MUKERJEE 1940 – In: Rec. Bot. Surv. India: 19
Hook.f. 1885 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 609
KUDO 1929 – In: Mem. Fac. Sc. & Agr. Taihoku Un.: 114
QUIS. 1951: Medic. Pl. Philip.: 827
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 939
LINNE 1754 – In: Stickm., Herb. Amb.: 130
Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 643
DOMIN 1929 – In: Bibl. Bot.: 1116
LINNE 1759: Syst. Nat., ed. 10: 1105
BACK. 1931: Onkr. Suiker.: 574
LINNE 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 340
Merr. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 461
BLANCO 1878 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: 253
LINNE 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 38
BTH. 1832: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 11
HASSK. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 128
K.SCH. & HOLLR. 1889: Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land: 118
LINNE 1860: Sumatra: 571
VIDAL 1885: Phan. Cuming. Philip.: 135
DECNE 1834 – In: Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris: 397
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 1575
F.-VILL. 1880: Nov. App.: 162
LINNE 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 422
Bl. 1823: Cat.: 83
BLANCO 1837: Fl. Filip.: 480
BLANCO 1878 – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: 255
PRAIN 1907 – In: J. As. Soc. Beng.: 701
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 639
VIDAL 1886: Rev. Pl. Vasc. Filip.: 212
LINNE 1826: Bijdr.: 831
LINNE 1759 – In: Amoen. Ac.: 130
LINNE 1973: Atlas: t. 545
LINNE 1917: Int. Rumph.: 460
LINNE 1878: p. 254. – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: t. 257
BTH. 1832: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 11
Merr. 1934 – In: Contr. Arn. Arb.: 149
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 939
BARTLETT 1926 – In: Pap. Mich. Ac. Sc.: 35
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 939
LINNE 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 39
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 408
KENG 1969 – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: 130
K.SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 532