description
Basil is part of the Lamiaceae, or mint family, and has a large number of
varieties. While most common varieties of basil are treated as annuals,
some are perennial in warm, tropical climates.
The thin, branching root produces bushy stems growing from 1-2 feet high and
bearing opposite, ovate, entire or toothed leaves which are often
purplish-hued. The two-lipped flowers, varying in color from white to red,
sometimes with a tinge of purple, grow in racemes from June to September.
The plant is very aromatic.
common names
& nomenclature
The word basil comes from the Greek basileus, meaning "king"—as it has come
to be associated with the Feast of the Cross commemorating the finding of
the True Cross by St. Helena, the mother of the emperor St. Constantine.
Alternatively, Nicholas Culpeper notes of basil that it is "an herb of Mars
and under the Scorpion, and therefore called Basilicon", relating it to the
basilisk, a legendary reptilian creature said to be the king of serpents.
Also known as:
common basil,
garden basil,
luole,
thai basil,
st. joseph’s wort
sweet basil,
tulsi,
and
arjaka
