Basil: Bas·il (băz'əl, bā'zəl)

Latin (Botanical) name: Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum menthaefolium Hochst.

Synonyms: Ocimum menthaefolium Hochst., ocimum basilicum extract, ocymum basilicum, basilic

Common name: Basil, Sweet basil, Basilikum, Herbe royale, Basilic commun, oranger des savetiers, Reihan, Rihan.

Family: Labiatae, Lamiaceae (Mint family).

Method of extraction: Steam distilled from fresh or dry leaves, leaves with non-matured seeds (flowering tops).

Origin: Egypt.

Uses: Herbal (Traditional) medicine (dosage), Flavo(u)r, Fragrance and Aromatherapy (bath, massage, skin, hair, steam inhalation, vaporization, etc.).

Basil oil is used in the cosmetics and food industries. Basil oil has therapeutic effects. Individual (single) oil or blended with essential oils and diluted.

Oil Specification:

Specific gravity: 0.945 - 0.987 at 25°C.

Refractive index: 1.512 – 1.54 at 20°C.

The oil is either colourless or pale greenish yellow and has a sweet, clear, light and spicy herbal smell.

Solubility in water: Insoluble.

Ingredients: 100% Pure essential (volatile) oil.

Perfumery note: Top.

Basil Blends Well With: Citrus, Geranium, Fennel, Marjoram, Lavender, Black Pepper, Myrrh, Mint, Rosemary, Clove, Ginger, Camphor, Rose, Chamomile, etc.

Plant description:

LABIATAE A. Juss. Corolla bilabiate with 2 distinct lips. Stamens 4. Leaves undivided or lobed. Leaves serrate or crenate. Calyx not with scarious limb. Flowers purple, pink or white. Whorls more-flowered. Leaves otherwise. Fruit calyx reflexed, upper limb large, ovate or orbicular. Stigma bifid. Leaves with entire margin. Flowers also in lateral whorls, thus forming a spike or raceme. Stem not white-woolly. Calyx 2 lipped. Leaves larger, long-petioled. OCIMUM L.: Flower-whorls forming a terminal raceme. Calyx deflexed in fruit, 2 lipped, with a broad upper limb ; stigma bifid. OCIMUM MENTHAEFOLIUM Hochst.: Undershrub with pubescent branches and ovate-lanceolate, entire or minutely serrate leaves. Flowers in interrupted racemes, bracts and calyx white-hispid, corolla pale pinkish with lower lip elongated, filaments long-exserted with yellow anthers. Woody perennials. Of strong mint-smell.

v. staminosum Sims. : The 2 upper stamens with a tooth at base (in type not.).

Source: STUDENTS’ FLORA OF EGYPT second edition, by VIVI TÄCKHOLM, D. Sc. (Stockholm) Professor of Systematic Botany, Faculty of Science, Cairo University. Published by Cairo University. Printed by COOPERATIVE PRINTING COMPANY Beirut, 1974.

Scientific classification

Growing Method: Conventional agriculture (planted and harvested), only compost added in the field before seedling.

Propagation: Fruits (seeds), cultivated perennial. Commercially annual in Upper Egypt.

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