basil
Sign in to saveBasil (Ocimum basilicum), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the 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 in warmer horticultural zones with tropical or Mediterranean climates.
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Basil is a culinary herb from the mint family that originated in tropical regions of Africa and Asia and is now used in cuisines around the world. In most Western cooking, basil refers to sweet basil, which is grown as an annual plant in cooler climates but can survive longer in warmer, tropical, or Mediterranean regions.
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Article
30 sectionsContents
- Description
- Phytochemistry
- Similar species
- Taxonomy
- Cultivars
- Hybrids
- Etymology
- Distribution and habitat
- Cultivation
- Growing conditions
- Pruning, flowering, and seeding
- Propagation methods
- Seeds
- Cuttings
- Diseases
- Uses
- Culinary
- Leaves and flowers
- Seeds
- Folk medicine
- Insecticide and insect repellent
- Nematicide
- Bacterial and fungal inhibition
- In culture
- Religion
- Art and literature
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
Basil (Ocimum basilicum), also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the 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 in warmer horticultural zones with tropical or Mediterranean climates.
There are many varieties of basil including sweet basil, Thai basil (O.basilicum var. thyrsiflora), and Mrs. Burns' Lemon (O.basilicum var. citriodora). O.basilicum can cross-pollinate with other species of the Ocimum genus, producing hybrids such as lemon basil (O. × africanum) and African blue basil (O. × kilimandscharicum).