Ocimum tenuiflorum, commonly known as tulasi (from Sanskrit), tulsi, or holy basil, is an aromatic perennial plant widely cultivated throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.Ocimum sanctum is a heterotypic synonym of O. tenuiflorum.
It is grown for religious reasons particularly by the Vaishnavite sect. It is worshipped as the avatar of Goddess Lakshmi.
It is used for traditional medicine purposes esp in Ayurvedic and Siddha practices. It is cultivated for for its essential oil and also widely used as an herbal tea.
The three main morphotypes cultivated in India
1. Ram tulsi (bright green leaves),
2. Purplish green-leaved (Krishna or Shyam tulsi) and
3. The wild vana tulsi.
It has purplish flowers placed in close whorls on elongated racemes. A close up of a single flower is presented here.
Shot in Coorg October 2025 â’¸ Dr.Bishan Monnappa
