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Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Photo: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 2 countries herbaceous plant

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Family: Lamiaceae

On our map this plant appears in 2 countries and ranks highest in: Serbia, Italy.

An annual plant of the mint family with a branched, square stem and opposite, oval leaves. Its small white or purplish-pink flowers are gathered in spike-like inflorescences at the tips of the shoots. The whole plant is intensely fragrant thanks to essential oils, including linalool and eugenol. It comes from tropical Asia and cannot tolerate frost, so in Europe it is grown in gardens and pots in summer. Its many varieties differ in leaf colour and aroma – from lemony to aniseed.

Description from: Serbia.

More: Wikipedia (en) Wikipedia (pl) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. Serbia no. 7 of 8 cultivated

    In Orthodox Serbia bosiljak accompanies religious rites: the priest uses a bunch of basil to sprinkle the faithful and their homes with holy water, and sprigs are placed by icons and put into holy water on the Feast of the Epiphany…

  2. Italy no. 9 of 10 cultivated

    Basilico Genovese, grown on the coastal slopes around Genoa, has a protected designation of origin (DOP) and is an essential ingredient of pesto alla genovese.