🍃 Herb for cooking 🌿 Aromatic herb genus

Ocimum

1 9.3

An aromatic herb plant like basil whose leaves are used in cooking and medicine

proper noun
/oʊˈsɪməm/

Specialized

: ocimum

The chef added fresh Ocimum leaves to the pasta sauce for extra flavor.
Ocimum basilicum
Basil (Ocimum)

Examples

Researchers are studying the essential oils found in Ocimum plants for health benefits.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a versatile herb used in many Mediterranean dishes.
Many gardeners grow Ocimum species for their aromatic and medicinal properties.
I love cooking with Ocimum because it adds a wonderful flavor.
In Italian cuisine, Ocimum is essential for many dishes.
In traditional medicine, Ocimum is known for its calming properties.
Growing Ocimum in your garden not only adds flavor to your meals but also attracts beneficial insects.

Surface Forms

Ocimum main

Etymology

Ocimum goes back to the Latin ocimum and an older Greek name for 'basil' that highlighted its pleasant 'scent'. That is why Ocimum is used now as the scientific name for aromatic herbs chefs and traditional healers use, like basil.