Family: Lamiaceae
Common name: Basil, Great Basil
What’s an Italian dish without basil? Incomplete! This very popular herb belonging to the Mint family is native to Southeast Asia, but can now be seen in most countries, loved by everybody.
Plant characteristics
Basil plants are quite small, growing to a height of 40-60 cm, but packs quite a punch. The sweet, strong, pungent smells that meets you when you go near the plant is quite arresting.
Stem is typically green in color with red or purple hues. Leaves are ovate, about 8-12 cm long with a smooth, glossy texture. They can vary in color from bright green to dark green and purple depending on the cultivar.
Leaves have a bright, sweet, peppery scent when crushed, which makes them the popular herb used in many a cuisines and dishes.
Flowers appear as spikes, just like those of Tulsi, and are white, pink, or purple in color. They are 5-8 mm in diameter, their scent attracting bees, butterflies, and insects in plenty.
Basil fruits are small nutlets, about 2mm in diameter, each flower producing 2-6 seeds.
Growing tips
Basil plants need bright sunlight, and well-drained soil. Most plants die after flowering and fruiting, new plantlets growing around the parent plant from seeds that fall to the soil.
Pinching the growing tips can help the plant grow bushy and rounded. Regular watering is needed, without which the plants wilt quickly.
Fertilize once in 2-3 weeks and remove any diseased branches quickly. They are mostly pest-resistant due to the aromatic leaves, but any infestation has to be addressed quickly, since these sensitive plants might wilt and die quickly.
The common varieties are Sweet basil, Thai basil, Lemon basil and Holy basil (tulsi). The leaves are used to make tea, flavor salads, or in pasta and pizza. Dried leaves can be stored for a long time.
There are over 50 varieties of basil, some of them cultivars, produced through selective breeding. Although it is an outdoor plant, you could trying growing basil on a sunny window sill.
Interesting facts and Uses
- The unique scent is due to essential oils which were used to make perfumes for royalty in olden days.
- Basil is said to have aphrodisiac properties, the fresh scent stimulating blood flow.
- The all time favorite pesto, is made by grinding basil leaves, garlic, olive oil and some nuts.
Parts of the plant are used to treat arthritis, asthma, digestive disorders, inflammations, acne, diarrhea, constipation, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more.
Basil is the main ingredient of pesto, which is used in pasta, pizza, sandwiches, dips, salads, and other savory dishes. They can be stored in the refrigerator and freezer, or dried and made into a condiment.
Basil seeds are used in desserts like faluda, ice cream, drinks, desserts, and sherbets. Dried leaves can be placed in closets for a pleasant odor.
Propagation
Propagation is done through seeds and stem cuttings.
Seeds from mature plants fall on the ground and germinate to produce small plantlets. Stem cuttings can be kept in water till roots develop, and then replanted.
Photographed at: Nagavara, Bangalore
