6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

Tulsi

ative

Photo:GurcharanSingh

Commonname:Holybasil,Tulsi
(Hindi,Tamil,Telugu),Trittavu(Malayalam),Tulshi(Marathi)
Botanicalname:OcimumtenuiflorumFamily:Lamiaceae(Mintfamily)
Synonyms:Ocimumsanctum
Tulsi(Ocimumsanctum)isawidelygrown,sacredplantofIndia.HindusgrowTulsiasareligiousplant
intheirhomes,templesandtheirfarms.TheyuseTulsileavesinroutineworship.Tulsi,grownasapot
plant,isfoundinalmosteverytraditionalHinduhouse.ThenaturalhabitatofTulsivariesfromsealevel
toanaltitudeof2000m.Itisfoundgrowingnaturallyinmoistsoilnearlyallovertheglobe.Tulsiisa
branched, fragrant and erect herb having hair all over. It attains a height of about 75 to 90 cm when
mature.Itsleavesarenearlyroundandupto5cmlongwiththemarginbeingentireortoothed.These
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6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

are aromatic because of the presence of a kind of scented oil in them. A variety with green leaves is
called Shri Tulsi and one with reddish leaves is called Krishna Tulsi. Tulsi flowers are small having
purpletoreddishcolor,presentinsmallcompactclustersoncylindricalspikes.Stalklessheartshaped
bracts are there at the base of each flower cluster. Sepal cup is not hairy within. Flowers are rarerly
longerthan5mm,calyxtubebeardedoutsidenearbase.Flowertubeishairy.Thefruitsaresmalland
theseedsyellowtoreddishincolor.

Medicinal uses:
Because of its medicinal virtues, Tulsi is used in Ayurvedic preparations for
treatingvariousailments.

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