African basil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids African basil
Scientific classification
Genus:	Ocimum
Species:	gratissimum

Ocimum gratissimum, also known as clove basil, African basil, and in Hawaii as wild basil, is a species of Ocimum. It is native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and the Bismarck Archipelago, and naturalized in Polynesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, West Indies, Brazil, and Bolivia.

Other names

O. gratissimum is a common culinary herb in West Africa and is used by some in the Caribbean, going by many local names.

• Ebe-amwonkho in Edo
• Tchayo in Fon
• Dogosui in Ewe
• Efirin in Yoruba
• Tamwṍtswã́gi in Nupe
• Kpan-sroh in (Irigwe language)
• Añyeba in Igala
• Daidoya in Hausa
• Nchuanwu also Arimu in Igbo
• Ntong in Ibibio, Efik
• Kunudiri in Kirikeni Okuein
• Nunum in Akan
• Nunu Bush in Jamaica (from the Akan language)
• Yerba di holé in Papiamento
• Fobazen in Haiti
• Scent leaves in Nigeria and in the African diaspora
• Mujaaja in Uganda
• Maduruthala in Sri Lanka මදුරුතලා
• Kattutulasi(കാട്ടുതുളസി), Kattu Thrithaav (കാട്ടു തൃത്താവ്) in Kerala
• Bai yeera in Thai ใบยี่หร่า
• Rehani in Georgian რეჰანი
• Van Tulsi in Gujarati
• Tomka leaf (তোমকা/তোমহা পাতা) in chittagoneon Bangla
• Awromangnrin in Baoulé
• 'Kungurekwu u tamen in Tiv

Seed germination

Seeds seem to need strong sunlight to germinate, although germination has been achieved even during an average UK summer.

Pharmacology of extracts and essential oils

The essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum contains eugenol and shows some evidence of antibacterial activity. The essential oil has potential for use as a food preservative, and is toxic to Leishmania.

Insect repellent

O. gratissimum repels the thrips Thrips tabaci, and so is a useful insect repellent in other crops.

See also

In Spanish: Albahaca de clavo para niños