Ocimum micranthum

Willd.

Peruvian basil

LamiaceaeLeavesShoots

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Stem, Leaves

The leaves are used in soups and stews.

It is a tropical plant.

Amazon, Central America, Cuba, Guyana, Nicaragua, South America, St Lucia, West Indies,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Suriname, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay, St Vincent, Venezuela

A tropical herb in the Lamiaceae family with edible leaves and stems, belonging to a genus of between 100 and 150 Ocimum species.

There are between 100 and 150 Ocimum species.

Names & Synonyms

Alfavaca, Barsley Fonbwafen, Married man pork, Sika kaira

See Ocimum americanum

References (7)

Coe, F. G., and Anderson, G. J., 1996, Ethnobotany of the Garifuna of Eastern Nicaragua. Economic Botany 50(1) pp 71-107 (As Ocimum micranthum)
Coe, F. G. & Anderson, G. J., 1997, Ethnobotany of the Miskitu of Eastern Nicaragua. Journal of Ethnobiology 17(2): 171-214
Coe, F. G. and Anderson, G. J., 1999, Ethnobotany of the Sumu (Ulwa) of Southeastern Nicaragua and Comparisons with Miskitu Plant Lore. Economic Botany Vol. 53. No. 4. pp. 363-386
Enum. pl. 2:630. 1809
Katz, E., et al, 2012, No greens in the forest? Note on the limited consumption of greens in the Amazon. Acta Soc Bot Pol 81(4):283–293
Miguel, E., et al, 1989, A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba. Kulturpflanze 37. 1989, 211-357
Omawale, 1973, Guyana's edible plants. Guyana University, Georgetown p 69 (As Ocimum micranthum)