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Basil
Basil (, ; , ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' (, )), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a hardiness (plants), tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety (botany), variety also known as Genovese basil or sweet basil. Basil is native to tropical regions from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. In temperate climates basil is treated as an annual plant, but it can be grown as a short-lived perennial or Biennial plant, biennial in warmer Hardiness zone, horticultural zones with Tropical climate, tropical or Mediterranean climates. There are many List of basil cultivars, varieties of basil including sweet basil, Thai basil (''O. basilicum'' var. ''thyrsiflora''), and Mrs. Burns' Lemon basil, Mrs. Burns' Lemon (''O.'basilicum var. citriodora''). ''O. basilicum'' can Cross-pollination, cross-pollinate with other species of the ''Ocimum'' genus, producing Hybrid (biology), hybrid ...
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List Of Basil Cultivars
Basil cultivars are cultivated Variety (biology), varieties of basil. They are used in a variety of ways: as culinary herbs, landscape plants, healing herbs, teas, and worship implements. All true basils are species of the genus ''Ocimum''. The genus is particularly diverse, and includes annual plant, annuals, non-woody perennial plant, perennials and shrubs native to Africa and other tropics, tropical and subtropics, subtropical regions of the Old World, Old and New World. Although it is estimated that there are 50 to 150 species of basil, most, but not all, culinary basils are cultivars of ''O. basilicum'', or sweet basil. Some are cultivars of other basil species, and others are Hybrid (biology), hybrids. It is particularly challenging to determine which species a basil belongs to. This is because basil cross-breeds easily, and drawing boundaries between species is particularly difficult. In fact, recent studies have led to reclassification of some portions of the genus. Basil cu ...
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Thai Basil
Thai basil is a type of basil native to Southeast Asia that has been cultivated to provide distinctive traits. Widely used throughout Southeast Asia, its flavor, described as anise- and licorice-like and slightly spicy, is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil. Thai basil has small, narrow leaves, purple stems, and pink-purple flowers. Description Thai basil is sturdy and compact, growing up to , and has shiny green, slightly serrated, narrow leaves with a sweet, anise-like scent and hints of licorice, along with a slight spiciness lacking in sweet basil. Thai basil has a purple stem, and like other plants in the mint family, the stem is square. Its leaves are opposite and decussate. As implied by its scientific name, Thai basil flowers in the form of a thyrse. The inflorescence is purple, and the flowers when open are pink. Taxonomy and nomenclature Sweet basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') has multiple cultivars — Thai bas ...
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African Blue Basil
African blue basil ('' Ocimum kilimandscharicum'' × ''basilicum'' ' Dark Opal') is a hybrid basil variety, a cross between camphor basil and dark opal basil. It is one of a few types of basil that are perennial. African blue basil plants are sterile, unable to produce seeds of their own, and can only be propagated by cuttings. This particular breed of basil has a strong camphor scent, inherited from ''Ocimum kilimandscharicum'' (camphor basil), its East African parent. It is included into the Lamiaceae (mint) family. The concentration of camphor is 22% (compared with 61% for ''O. kilimandscharicum''). The concentration of the other major aroma compounds, linalool (55%), and 1,8-cineole (15%) is comparable to many basil cultivars."Basil: A Source of Aroma Compounds and a Popular Culinary and Ornamental Herb" reprinted from: ''Perspectives on new crops and new uses'' (1999), ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA, . The camphor parent gives this basil a taste different from most bas ...
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Lemon Basil
Lemon basil, hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, or Lao basil,Dorothy Culloty (''Ocimum'' × ''africanum'') is a hybrid between basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') and American basil ('' Ocimum americanum''). The herb is grown primarily in northeastern Africa and southern Asia for its fragrant lemon scent, and is used in cooking. Lemon basil stems can grow to tall. It has white flowers in late summer to early fall. The leaves are similar to basil leaves, but tend to be narrower with slightly serrated edges. Seeds form on the plant after flowering and dry on the plant. Lemon basil is a popular herb in Arab, Indonesian, Filipino, Lao, Malay, Indian, Persian and Thai cuisine. Uses Culinary In Lao cuisine, (where it is called ''pak i tou'',) lemon basil is used extensively in soups, stews, curries and stir-fried dishes as it is the most commonly used type of basil in Laos. Many Lao stews require the use of lemon basil as no other basil varieties are acceptable as substitutes ...
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Ocimum Basilicum Desiccated 5145~2016 01 03
''Ocimum'' is a genus of aromatic annual and perennial herbs and shrubs in the family Lamiaceae, native to the tropical and warm temperate regions of all 6 inhabited continents, with the greatest number of species in Africa. Its best known species are the cooking herb basil, ''O. basilicum'', and the medicinal herb ''tulsi'' (holy basil), ''O. tenuiflorum''. Ecology ''Ocimum'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including '' Endoclita malabaricus''. Taxonomy The genus was first published by Carl Linnaeus in his book ''Species Plantarum'' on page 597 in 1753. The genus name of ''Ocimum'' is derived from the Ancient Greek word for basil, (). Species Accepted ''Ocimum'' species by Plants of the World Online, and World Flora Online; *''Ocimum albostellatum'' *'' Ocimum americanum'' L. (tropical Africa), Indian subcontinent, China, southeast Asia *'' Ocimum amicorum'' A.J.Paton - Tanzania *'' Ocimum angustifolium'' Benth. - southeas ...
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