Martha's exotic Backyard in Israel:
Ocimum basilicum, Sweet basil, Holy basil,
Sacred basil, בזיליקום, ריחן, الريحان
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| | Scientific name: |
| Ocimum basilicum L. |
| Common name: |
| Sweet basil, Holy basil, Sacred basil |
| Hebrew name: |
| (rehan) בזיליקום, ריחן |
| Arabic name: |
| al-raihan, الريحان |
| Family: |
| Labiatae / Lamiaceae, Mint Family, שפתניים |
Date Picture Taken: October 10, 2008
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| | Life form: |
| Annual |
| Leaves: |
| Opposite, entire |
| Flowers: |
| small white, hermaphrodite flowers in a terminal spike |
| Flowering Period: |
| August, September |
| Habitat: |
| warm and moist |
| Distribution: |
| cultivated |
| Chorotype: |
| native to India |
Date Picture Taken: October 10, 2008
Derivation of the botanical name:
Ocimum, Greek okimon used by Theophrastus (370 — ca. 285 BCE), and Dioscorides (ca. 40 - ca. 90) and Galenus (129 – 199/217 CE) for an aromatic herb, basil. Latin ocimum (Plinius) for a herb which serves for fodder.
basilicum, basileus Greek βασιλεύς, royal or king, because of the royal fragrance of this herb; related word basilica Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa, the tribunal of a king.
Names like German Königskraut and Dutch koningskruid “king’s herb” are probably calqued from the Greek name.
- The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
BIBLICAL REFERENCES:
- Ocimum basilicum is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but it is thought to have been known to the ancient Israelites.
QURANIC REFERENCES:
- Surat Ar-Rahman, 55th sura, Verse 12, 13: Therein are fruits, date-palms producing sheathed fruit-stalks (enclosing dates). And also corn, with (its) leaves and stalk for fodder, and sweet-scented plants.
- Surat Al-Waqi‘a, 56th sura, Verse 88, 89: Thus, then, if he be of those Nearest to Allah, (there is for him) rest and satisfaction and a Garden of Delight.
Date Picture Taken: October 24, 2008
Date Picture Taken: April 19, 2010
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