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Ocimum basilicum

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum

common basil, italian basil, kihohono (Ni‘ihau via St. John), sweet basil

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual or short-lived perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems 5–10 dm long, many-branched, sparsely to densely villous, especially when young.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite. Blades ovate to elliptic–ovate, 3–6 (–11) cm long, 1.3–3(–5) cm wide. Apex acute. Base cuneate. Upper surfaces puberulent; lower surfaces strigose on veins. Surfaces copiously dotted with sessile oil glands. Margins subentire to remotely crenulate. Petioles 1–2 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers 6–10 usually small, in verticillasters, these arranged in racemose, unbranched or branched inflorescences, pedicels recurved, bracts minute, caducous. Calyx actinomorphic, bilabiate, 2–5 mm long, ovoid or campanulate, deflexed & enlarging up to 9 mm long in fruit, tube ca. 3 mm long, dotted with oil glands, sparsely short–hirsute, sometimes also very sparsely long–hirsute, densely hirsute within at base, 10-nerved, lower teeth as long as or slightly longer than upper tooth, the teeth narrow and pungent, mouth of fruiting calyx open. Corolla bilabiate, campanulate, white, sometimes tinged pink, 7-10 mm long, glabrous within, upper lip erect, subequally 4-lobed, lower lip slightly longer, curved downward, flattened or concave, entire; nectary disk entire or 2–4-lobed, symmetrical. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, exserted beyond corolla tube; anther sacs confluent; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate; ovules 1 per ovary lobe, placentation basal-axile; style 2-lobed; stigmas 2.

Fruit: Nutlets ellipsoid; 1.5–3.5 mm long; pitted; mucilaginous when wet. Seeds with endosperm absent or scanty and oily.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 48

Habitat: Naturalized in low elevation; dry disturbed habitats.

Elevation Range: 15–400 m.

Historical Distribution

Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Ocimum basilicum var. basilicum

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Only found in cultivation
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 597 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:808 (Ni, O, Mo, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:359 (KEY, DESCR); Oppenheimer 2010:36 (L); Frohlich & Lau 2012:40 (K); Uehara s.n. BISH 53285 (Mo†, 1961); Herbst 856 BISH (M†, 1968)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ocimum basilicum W rim of Maunalei Gulch Scattered on ridgetop in remnant shrubland. Preserved_Specimen Leaves aromatic. Oppenheimer, H.L. 50611 Lanai BISH 2006-05-10
2 Ocimum basilicum Kamalo Cultivated Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13544 Oahu BISH 1937-01-12
3 Ocimum basilicum UH campus, Sherman Laboratory full sun Preserved_Specimen Upright subshrub, crushed leaves have a strong spicy odor. The stems and young leaves have a beet purple cast. The corolla is white with tinge of blush pink Lau, J. 1168 Oahu BISH 1985-06-30
4 Ocimum basilicum UH campus, Sherman Laboratory full sun Preserved_Specimen Upright subshrub, crushed leaves have a strong spicy odor. The stems and young leaves have a beet purple cast. The corolla is white with tinge of blush pink Lau, J. 1168 Oahu BISH 1985-06-30
5 Ocimum basilicum Diamond Head Community Garden, Honolulu, base of Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen ~2.5' high x 2' wide Mayeda, C.S. 10 Oahu BISH 1990-12-07
6 Ocimum basilicum Honolulu, Kewalo St. N. of Wilder Ave Crack between road and curb. Moist area, mostly shaded from parked cars Preserved_Specimen One individual present Faccenda, K. 1970 Oahu BISH 2021-06-12
7 Ocimum basilicum M.Emrick, Honua Farm, Kikala Rd., Kalaheo Preserved_Specimen Stem pale whitish with strong purple overlay, glossy. Leaves: petiole pale purple, blade green varigated with purple, dull. Inflorescence: immature calyxes dark purple with hairs whitish; some calyxes nearly green; flowers 14 x 7 mm, mottled white and purple; stamens white, some with purple filaments; pistil purplish. Strong odor Hume, L. 391 Kauai BISH 1989-08-27
8 Ocimum basilicum Kilauea Volcano. N. rim of Caldera. Planted in garden; in woods around houses Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 60560 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-07
9 Ocimum basilicum East end of Molokai, mi 19; open valley floor. Residence of Mr. & Mrs. George Peabody Preserved_Specimen Shrub 3' tall; lvs dark green, aromatic, shiny; flws white; seeds dark brown & numerous. Plant reseeding readily. Evans, M. 24 Molokai BISH 1990-06-30
10 Ocimum basilicum past Hanauma Bay, road panks shade; with Leucaena, Acacia; dry slope Preserved_Specimen to 5' shrub; fragrant odor Anderson, D. 0.42 Oahu BISH 1972-01-25
11 Ocimum basilicum M.Emrick, Honua Farm, Kikala Rd., Kalaheo Preserved_Specimen Shrubby, 60 cm., with strong licorice odor. Young stems pale green to nearly white, glossy, with dark purple exposed side; stem maturing to pale green marbled pale purplish-brown. Leaves: succulent, above medium green, somewhat glossy, below paler, somewhat glossy. Inflorescense: largely purple; rachis pale green washed purple, oldest calyxes pure bright green, in flower upper calyxes dark purple, lower pale green washed purple; flowers large, showy. Hume, L. 396 Kauai BISH 1989-08-27
12 Ocimum basilicum Cultivated plants grown in the garden at 3115 Kaloaluiki Place, Manoa Valley, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Mexican basil an aromatic herb with lvs mint-flavored, though they have no mnt odor. Herb to 3 ft. tall, stems becoming woody with age; flws white. Kadowaki, A. 598 Oahu BISH 1990-05-05
13 Ocimum basilicum Foster Community Garden, Honolulu Preserved_Specimen 3' high x 2' wide Mayeda, C.S. 3 Oahu BISH 1990-12-04
14 Ocimum basilicum Foster Botanic Garden Preserved_Specimen A shrub 1.2 m tall grown in partial shade. The crushed plant has a strong odor. Flowers white. Lau, J. 1702 Oahu BISH 1985-12-02
15 Ocimum basilicum Kohala, Puu Hue Ranch dry pasture Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 188 Hawaii BISH 1932-03-15
16 Ocimum basilicum Backyard at 865 Wnaao Rd., Kailua, 96734 Preserved_Specimen Plant cultivated from material bought at Asian food store as Thai basil. Wagner, W.L. 5645 Oahu BISH 1985-12-28
17 Ocimum basilicum Oahu Preserved_Specimen Subshrub, about 18 tall. Growing in sandy soil with Prospopis, Sida, and Cucumis near ocean. El. about 50 ft. Paeahu. flowers white;' flower stalk purple; entire plant aromatic. Herbst, D.R. 856 Oahu BISH 1968-01-05
18 Ocimum basilicum Makawao, Makena, near sea Local patches. Occasional in dry place. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1792 Maui BISH 1937-04-08
19 Ocimum basilicum Foster Botanic Garden Preserved_Specimen A shrub 1.2 m tall grown in partial shade. The crushed plant has a strong odor. Flowers white. Lau, J. 1702 Oahu BISH 1985-12-02
20 Ocimum basilicum Manoa Community Gardens Preserved_Specimen Mayeda, C.S. 5 Oahu BISH 1990-12-06
21 Ocimum basilicum Foot of plateau Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
22 Ocimum basilicum Molokai Preserved_Specimen Uehara, S. Molokai BISH 1961-04-11
23 Ocimum basilicum Diamond Head Community Garden, Honolulu, base of Diamond Head Preserved_Specimen ~2.5' high x 2' wide Mayeda, C.S. 9 Oahu BISH 1990-12-07
24 Ocimum basilicum Along road 1/2 mile S of Pohue bay Preserved_Specimen Scattered shrubs, grasses and herbs. Higashino, P.K. 10211 Hawaii BISH 1984-03-26
25 Ocimum basilicum Maui Preserved_Specimen Subshrub, about 18 tall. Growing in sandy soil with Proopis, sida, and Cucumis near ocean. Paeahu. Flowers white; flower stalk purple; entire plant aromatic. Herbst, D.R. 856 Maui BISH 1968-01-05
26 Ocimum basilicum Makiki Community Garden, C-4 Preserved_Specimen large, smooth crinkly leaves Anderson, K. 3 Oahu BISH 1992-11-11
27 Ocimum basilicum Honolulu, 1930 Ualakaa Street Preserved_Specimen Wilder, G.P. Oahu BISH 1930-11-02
28 Ocimum basilicum Foot of plateau Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
29 Ocimum basilicum Ewa Beach. Preserved_Specimen Shitanishi, J. Oahu BISH 2009-05-12
30 Ocimum basilicum In Hilo Growing in a yard. Preserved_Specimen Shrub about 2' tall. Kubo, R. Hawaii BISH 1978-10-27
31 Ocimum basilicum Mauka of Kapaa town on Hauiki Rd. Lowland roasdside area. Preserved_Specimen Herb to 1 ft. tall. OED 2010033104 Kauai BISH 2010-03-31
32 Ocimum basilicum Koloa, Kalaheo, 3581 Kaloke St garden Preserved_Specimen 0.6 m; foliage light bright green; aromatic with licorice basil scent; corolla white Lorence, D.H. 6354 Kauai BISH 1989-05-10
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