The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ocymum minimum
Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr. basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king.] (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil ( Ocymum basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil ( Ocymum minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint ( Pycnanthemum).
Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta.
Wild basil, a plant ( Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family.