Plant of the week
Ocimum basilicum, Lamiaceae
Basil
Plant essence guidance for the soul
Refreshing ideas. Love of the physical body. Inspiration. Uplifting of the body. A desire to
be free, to let go and create anew. The beginning of a gentle process of transformation.
Letting go of the old, embracing the new.
Interesting tidbits
Basil is native to India, but has been cultivated in the Mediterranean region for thousands
of years. It is an annual, growing in a rounded mound about sixty centimetres tall.
Ocimum is an old Greek name.
The species name basilicum means royal, from the Greek basileus (king).
Sniffing it was said to clear a headache.
The ancient Egyptians embalmed their dead with a mixture of basil and myrrh, and in
Greece basil became a sign of mourning.
In Rome, basil signified love. The Italian and Moroccan practice of placing potted basil
on the windowsill was reputed to repel flies and mosquitoes, and attract lovers.
Holy basil, O. tulsi, was used in Hindu religious ceremonies.
Basil is a good source of beta-carotene and vitamins A and C. Fresh basil leaves are a
good source of calcium.
In the Victorian language of flowers, basil means hatred.