On this Wikipedia basil pesto pasta recipe language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The Latin name has been confused with basilisk, as it was supposed to be an antidote to the basilisk’s venom.

Basil is an annual, or sometimes perennial, herb used for its leaves. Its leaves are richly green and ovate, but otherwise come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes depending on cultivar. Basil grows a thick, central taproot. Its flowers are small and white, and grow from a central inflorescence, or spike, that emerges from the central stem atop the plant.

The various basils have such distinct scents because the volatile aromatic compounds vary with cultivars. Basil is native to India and other tropical regions stretching from Africa to South East Asia, but has now become globalized due to human cultivation. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Ocimum basilicum has at least 60 varieties, which further complicates taxonomy. Most basils are cultivars of sweet basil. Most basil varieties have green leaves, but a few are purple, such as, ‘Purple Delight’.

Some similar species in the same genus may be commonly called “basil”, although they are not varieties of Ocimum basilicum. Ocimum tenuiflorum, formerly known as O. Basil is sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions. It behaves as an annual if there is any chance of a frost.

However, due to its popularity, basil is cultivated in many countries around the world. In Northern Europe, Canada, the northern states of the U. Additionally, it may be sown in soil once chance of frost is past. It fares best in well-drained soil with direct exposure to the sun.