Ocimum tenuiflorum L.
An erect perennial herb upto 0.6m . Leaves elliptic to elliptic - oblong , 3-6cm long , 1-2.5cm wide , cuneate to attenuate at base , obtuse to acute at apex , entire to remotely serrate at margins , pubescent on both sufaces but especially on the nerves beneath . Flowers terminal , slender racemes or panicles , 4-12cm long , 1-1.5cm wide , bracteoles 2-3mm long , ovate acuminate , ciliate ; flowers in verticils , on pedicels 2-4.5mm long ; calyx c 2.5mm long , corolla pale pink , pale lavender or white to 4mm long . Fruit with nutlets purple - green to brown , broadly ellipsoid 0.8-1.2mm long , smooth to minutely pitted , swelling in water
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Habit: An erect perennial herb
- Habitat: Moist to wet , lowland tropics , waste places or in settled areas and thickets
- Status : Common
Vernacular names
English - Holy basil
Hindi - Tulsi
Malayalam - Trittavu
Tamil - Tulasi
Kannada - Tulasi
Medicinal Uses
• Used for treating cough , asthma , diarrhoea , fever , dysentery , indigestion , gastric ailments , etc .
• Fresh flowers are used for treating bronchitis .
• Leaves and seeds are used for treating malaria .
• Entire plant is used for nausea and vomiting .
• Antimicrobial , anti allergic , antipyretic , anti emetic ( Mohan L et al , 2011 ) .
