Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Sp. Pl. 2: 597. 1753; Benth. in DC., Prodr. 12: 39. 1848; Domin, Bibliothec. Bot. 22: 89. 1928; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 294; keralaplants.in; O. sanctum L., Mant. Pl. 1: 85. 1767; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 609. 1885; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1111 (778). 1924.

Perennial subshrub, up to 1 m tall, much branched. Stem erect, quadrangular, base woody, long spreading pilose, eglandular. Leaves opposite; petioles 1-2 cm long with adaxial groove, densely pilose; leaf blade oblong, ovate-oblong or elliptic, 2-5 cm x 1-3 cm, base cuneate to rounded, margin crenulate or serrulate, apex acute to obtuse, puberulent, veins usually pilose, gland-dotted on both surfaces. Verticillasters 8-10, separated, usually 6-flowered in pedunculate terminal thyrses or panicles, 6-8 cm; peduncle 1-1.5 cm long, quadrangular with one groove on each side, pilose; bracts stalked, broadly ovate, 5 mm x 4.5 mm, pubescent, apex shortly acuminate. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous; pedicel 2-3 mm long, terete, retrosely pubescent, spreading in fruit. Calyx ca. 5 mm long in anthesis, campanulate, pubescent and pilose outside; tube ca. 3.5 mm long, throat not bearded inside; limb 2-lipped: upper lip 1-lobed, lobe ca. 4 mm x 3 mm, suborbicular; lower lip 4-toothed, lanceolate, lateral teeth ca. 1 mm long spinose, lower teeth subulate, ca. 3 mm long; fruiting calyx up to 6 mm x 4 mm, conspicuously veined. Corolla 5-6 mm long, slightly exserted, sparsely puberulent; tube 2.5-3 mm long, dilated at throat; limb 2-lipped: upper lip purplish, 4-lobed, 2.5-3 mm x 4 mm, lobes ovate, each lobe 1 mm x 1 mm; lower lip entire, broadly oblong, ca. 3 mm x 1.5 mm, white, flat. Stamens 4, didynamous, slightly exserted, posterior filaments puberulent at base, anthers reniform. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary ca. 1.5 mm long, 4-lobed, 4-locular, 1 ovule per loculus; style gynobasic, ca. 8 mm long; stigma bifid. Nutlets ca. 1.3 mm x 0.9 mm, pale brown, broadly ovoid-elliptic, myxospermic.

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