Ocimum suave Willdenow, Enum. Pl. 629. 1809.

Shrubs erect, 50-100 cm, much branched; branches and stems villous or subglabrous, red-brown when dry. Petiole 1-3.5 cm; leaf blade ovate-oblong to oblong, 5-12 × 1.5-6 cm, gradually reduced toward apex, slightly scabrid, densely villous-tomentose, golden glandular, base cuneate to long attenuate, margin remotely crenate, apex long acuminate. Verticillasters 6-flowered, in erect, pedunculate, terminal and axillary thyrses or panicles 10-15 cm; lower floral leaves subsessile, oblong, 2-2.5 cm; peduncle 1.5-2.5 cm; bracts sessile, ovate-rhombic to lanceolate, 3-4 mm, long acuminate. Pedicel ca. 1.5 cm. Calyx campanulate, to 4 mm, throat villous, tube ca. 2 mm; middle tooth of upper lip ovate, ca. 2 × 1.5 mm, margin ± reflexed, apex acute; lateral teeth spinescent, slightly wider than connate lower lip teeth; fruiting calyx enlarged, to 5 mm, conspicuously 10-veined, posterior tooth reflexed. Corolla yellowish to white, ca. 4.5 mm, slightly exserted, puberulent, limb glandular, tube obconical, upper lip 4-lobed; lower lip slightly longer, oblong, ca. 1.5 mm. Stamens free, subequal; posterior 2 dentate at base, glabrous. Nutlets brown, subglobose, ca. 1 mm in diam., corrugate, glandular foveolate. Fl. Oct, fr. Nov.

Ocimum gratissimum var. gratissimum is subglabrous; not currently cultivated in China.

Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Sri Lanka; Africa]