Is this tulsi? - Ask Extension
Hi
Do you know if this is tulsi or Ocimum tenuiflorum?
Thanks
Knowledgebase
Is this tulsi? #282675
Asked October 05, 2015, 12:27 PM EDT
Hi
Do you know if this is tulsi or Ocimum tenuiflorum?
Thanks
County Outside United States
Expert Response
Sorry--I can't tell by looking at your photos--the detail isn't enough to check for identifying characteristics. Look carefully at the flowers. Here's a description of it from the Flowers of India website:
"Tulsi flowers are small having purple to reddish color, present in small compact clusters on cylindrical spikes. (You images show this) Stalkless heart-shaped bracts are there at the base of each flower cluster. Sepal cup is not hairy within. Flowers are rarerly longer than 5 mm, calyx tube bearded outside near base. Flower tube is hairy. The fruits are small and the seeds yellow to reddish in color." http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Tulsi.htmlThis description may help you identify it. Also--can't tell from your photos. I see many of the leaf margins have been eaten by insects, but Blessed Basil has slightly serrated, ruffled looking edges.
