Basilicum polystachyon (L.) Moench

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools

Photo: Bart Wursten
Lake Urema Floodplain, Gorongosa National Park

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Synonyms:	Lumnitzera polystachya Spreng. Moschosma polystachyon (L.) Benth. Ocimum polystachyon L.
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Description:	Aromatic annual herb up to c. 1 m tall. Stems erect, strongly 4-angled, branching above, more or less hairless or with short appressed hairs on the inflorescence axis. Leaves opposite, ovate, up to 5 × 2(3) cm, glandular-punctate, usually hairless or rarely with scattered appressed hairs; margin serrate; petiole 10-35 mm long. Inflorescences mainly axillary with many, usually 6-flowered verticils 3-5 mm apart; flowers often concentrated on one side of the inflorescence. Calyx 1-1.5 mm long with scattered sessile glands and short hairs. Corolla white, blue or purple, 2-3 mm long; tube straight; lips with scattered glands.
Type location:	India
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Derivation of specific name:	polystachyon: with many spikes.
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Altitude range: (metres)
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Worldwide distribution:	Widespread throughout the Old World tropics.
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 77. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 54. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 144. Paton, A.J. et al. (2009). Lamiaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 194 - 196. (Includes a picture). Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 158 - 159. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 68.

Other sources of information about Basilicum polystachyon:

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Flora of Malawi: Basilicum polystachyon
Flora of Mozambique: Basilicum polystachyon
Flora of Zambia: Basilicum polystachyon
Flora of Zimbabwe: Basilicum polystachyon

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Basilicum polystachyon
African Plant Database: Basilicum polystachyon
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Basilicum polystachyon
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Basilicum polystachyon
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Basilicum polystachyon
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Basilicum polystachyon
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Basilicum polystachyon
JSTOR Plant Science: Basilicum polystachyon
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Basilicum polystachyon
Plants of the World Online: Basilicum polystachyon
Tropicos: Basilicum polystachyon
Wikipedia: Basilicum polystachyon