Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum, Holy basil, or Tulsi,
is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native to South Asia and
widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Eastern World tropics.
It is an erect, much branched subshrub, 30-60 cm tall with hairy stems and simple
opposite green or purple leaves that are strongly scented. Leaves have petioles and are
ovate, up to 5 cm long,
usually slightly toothed. The flowers are purplish in elongate racemes in close whorls.
The two main morphotypes cultivated in India and Nepal are green-leaved
(Sri or Lakshmi Tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna Tulsi).
Tulsi is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its
essential oil.