Introduction
to Tulsi Tree
Family= Lamiaceae Scientific name = Ocimum sanctum
Common names –
1.
Basilie, Sweet Basil in English
2.
Tulsi in Hindi and Marathi
3.
Thulasi in Malyalam
Growing areas –
1.
It is widespread over Asia
2.
It is also spread in Africa and
Central and southern America.
3. It is known as East-Indian tree
Basil.
General information –
1.
It is commonly known as holy Basil.
2.
It is native of Indian subcontinent.
3.
Tulsi is cultivated for religious and
traditional medicine purposes, and for it’s essential oil.
4. It has the place with in the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism.
5. The seeds of the basil have some use as thickening agent in Thailand.
Leaves,
Flowers and fruit of the Tulsi tree
- (Tulsi) is an erect, much branched sub-shrub 30-60 cm tall, with simple opposite green or purple leaves.
- The leaves are strongly scented and hairy stems.
- They have petiole and are ovate.
- the leaves are about 5 cm long.
- The leaves are usually somewhat toothed.
1.
Tulsi flowers are small having purple
to reddish color.
2.
It’s flowers are present in small
compact clusters on cylindrical spikes.
3.
Stalkless heart-shaped bracts are
there at the base of each flower cluster.
4.
Sepal cup is not hairy within.
5.
Flowers are rarerly longer than 5 mm,
calyx tube bearded outside near base.
6.
Flower tube is hairy.
1.
The fruits are small.
2. The seeds are yellow to reddish in color.
USES OF THE TULSI TREE –
1.
Tulsi has been used in Ayurveda and
Siddha practices for it’s supposed treatment of diseases.
2.
The dried leaves have been mixed with
stored grains to repel insects.
3.
4.
This tree has many medicinal uses, it
is difficult to decide how to start listing them.
seeds of the Tulsi plant
Oil from the Tulsi Plant
