Holy basil - plant profile

Names

Holy basil, sacred basil, Thai basil (English)
Ajaka, brinda, manjari, parnasa, patra-puspha, suvasa tulasi (Sanskrit)
Tulsi, tulasi, baranda, kala tulsi (Hindi)
Tulsi (Gujarat)
Thulasi (Tamil)

Botanical name: Ocimum tenuiflorum (previously known as Ocimum sanctum
Family: Labiatae, the mint family.

The plant

An upright, shrubby, branched herb which grows to a height of about 60 cm. There are red and green forms of holy basil.
A flowering spikelet of holy basil. The leaves of common basil are much broader and smoother than those of holy basil.
Image: Holy basil plant. The leaves are not as smooth or broad as those of common basil.

Leaves - rounded with little hairs all over.

Flowers - purplish or red.




















More images of Holy basil