Ocimum americanum
Content
Description
Branched, erect herb, 0.30-1 m, strongly smelling of camphor.
Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, 2.5-5 by 0.9-2.5 cm, acute, base cuneate, margin entire or remotely crenulate, glabrous and glandular-dotted on both surfaces;
Flowers subsessile.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Malaya present; Sumatera (Sumatera present), Continental SE. Asia present, E. New Guinea present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Lombok present, Tropical Africa present, West Java present
Tropical Africa and continental SE. Asia; in Malesia: Sumatra, Malaya, West Java, Lesser Sunda Is. (Lombok), E. New Guinea.
Uses
Eaten raw as a side-dish, also an important ingredient for curries and sayor. Nutlets taken with cool sweet drinks under the names of tjao, M, tjingtjao, S, dawet, J. Leaves are also used in flavouring dishes with a fishy or disagreeable smell.
HARTLEY () listed this species as a potential medicine against cancer. BURKILL () stated that pounded leaves are in Malaya placed on the forehead against catarrh and that a decoction is used for coughs.
HARTLEY () listed this species as a potential medicine against cancer. BURKILL () stated that pounded leaves are in Malaya placed on the forehead against catarrh and that a decoction is used for coughs.
Notes
According to BACKER possibly a small-flowered form of O. basilicum.
In Ali I. (W. Sepik) specimens have been collected of a 3 ft tall plant with very small and narrow leaves (c. 15 by 2.3 mm), in regrowth of an old German plantation (NGF 40930).
In Ali I. (W. Sepik) specimens have been collected of a 3 ft tall plant with very small and narrow leaves (c. 15 by 2.3 mm), in regrowth of an old German plantation (NGF 40930).
Citation
Bl. 1848: Pl. Jav. Rar.: 477
Hook.f. 1885 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 607
MUKERJEE 1940 – In: Rec. Bot. Surv. India: 17
Merr. 1935 – In: Trans. Am. Phil. Soc.: 343
BACK. 1931: Onkr. Suiker.: 573
BURK. 1935: Dict.: 1574
KUDO 1929 – In: Mem. Fac. Sc. & Agr. Taihoku Un.: 113
K.SCH. & HOLLR. 1889: Fl. Kais. Wilh. Land: 118
BTH. 1832: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 3
MANSFELD 1929 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 380
LINNE 1759 – In: Amoen. Ac.: 276
BTH. 1848 – In: DC., Prod. 12: 32
SIMS 1973: Atlas: t. 544
HASSK. 1844: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 128
KENG 1969 – In: Gard. Bull. Sing.: 126
K.SCH. & LAUT. 1900: Fl. Schutzgeb.: 530
BTH. 1835: Lab. Gen. Sp.: 707
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 640
MOR. 1846: Syst. Verz.: 55
Miq. 1858 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 936
Ridl. 1923 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 644
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 158
OCHSE & BAKH. 1931: Ind. Groent: 355: f. 225