Ocimum. Ocimum basilicum. Basil, Sweet Basil.

Ocimum. Ocimum Basilicum L. Basil. Sweet Basil. Grand Basilic, Fr. Basilienkraut, G. (Fam. Labiatae.)—An annual, aromatic plant, a native of India and Persia, and cultivated in Europe and in this country in gardens. It yields by distillation from 0.02 to 0.04 per cent. of a yellowish, volatile oil. The French and German oil have a penetrating odor resembling estragon, the Reunion has a camphor-like odor, a higher specific gravity and is dextrogyrate. Basil has the ordinary properties of the aromatic plants, and is used as a condiment. The seeds are said by Ainslie to be used in India in gonorrhea.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.