Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: wu mao ding xiang luo le

English: African basil, clove basil, shrubby basil, tree basil, wild basil

French: basilic, basilic sauvage, menthe gabonaise

Maori (Cook Islands): miri nganga‘ere, miri papa‘ā, miri tītā, miri tūpāpaku, miri tūtae puaka, miri taratoni

Tahitian: miri papa‘ā, miri taratoni

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herbs, woody at base; stems 1-3 m long.  Leaves broadly to narrowly ovate, usually 5-13 cm long, 3-9 cm wide, both surfaces copiously glandular punctate, upper surface glabrate to sparsely puberulent, lower surface puberulent on veins, margins serrate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, petioles 1-6 cm long.  Calyx 3-5 mm long, enlarging up to ca. 7 mm long in fruit, tube usually 2-2.5 mm long at anthesis, sparsely hispidulous or puberulent and dotted with sessile oil globules, glabrous within, upper lobe ovate, median lobes of lower lip shorter than lateral ones; corolla greenish white to greenish yellow, 4-7 mm long.  Nutlets subglobose, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, slightly rugose"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 808).

Habitat/ecology:  "Mostly a weed of roadsides and wasteland, but is also important in pastures.  It is not a problem in cultivation.  It prefers moist and fertile soils during growth, but will tolerate drought after flowering" (Swarbrick, 1997; pp. 17-18).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in low elevation, dry, disturbed habitats, 3-430 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 808).  In French Polynesia, "commonly present through much of the low elevation portions of the islands" (Welsh, 1998; p. 130). In New Caledonia, "le basilic sauvage se montré très envahissant, faisant localement des fourrés denses monospécifiques, surtout en des endroits humides" (MacKee, 1994; p. 69).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Pantropical, native origin unknown, widely naturalized.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 40, 42) "Lefeuvre et al., 2005. Nous n’avons pas vues lors de cette" (Meyer, 2008).
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 10243) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 14) Voucher: Flynn 6996 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 150749) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 150750) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 150751) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 340) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. 28)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & M. Teikiteetini 9374 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: D.H. Lorence, W.L. Wagner, J. Florence, Y. Séchan & S. Bishop 6165 (PAP), J. Florence 7363 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 543861) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000453) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 6327) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: B.G. Decker 411 (PAP), B.G. Decker 527 (PAP), B.G. Decker 632 (PAP), B.G. Decker 648 (PAP), B.G. Decker 791 (PAP), B.G. Decker 1254 (PAP), M.-H. Sachet 1291 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4100 (PAP), J. Florence 6892 (PAP), B.G. Decker 2184 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1937) (voucher ID: BISH 77953) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491163) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 554196) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 554380) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 583863) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B. Decker 1744 (PAP) Adventice. Very common.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 4437 (PAP), B.G. Decker 255 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 554402) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 130)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: D. Baré 59 (PAP), J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11672 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1976) (voucher ID: BISH 417341) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 619017) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643304) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 60) Voucher cited: Raynal 17824
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg 64762 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 130)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2128 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 492831) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Puohine? Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 130)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 130)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3388b (PAP), F.R. Fosberg & M.-H. Sachet 63132 (PAP) (as Ocimum suave Willd.) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491048) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5263 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492313) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 130)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 2280 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 37287) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Tikehau (Tikahau) Atoll	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 7037 (PAP) Adventice. Ornementale assez commune.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5628 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11239 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643999) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5513 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 898869) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum L.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 808-809)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy W./Wagner, Warren L. (1995) (p. 39) Vouchers cited: T. Flynn 1990 (BISH, MO, PTBG), T. Flynn 2705 (BISH, F, MO, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 808-809)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 808-809)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Ni‘ihau Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 808-809)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 808-809) Voucher cited: Christopersen s. n. (BISH)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 99) "Coastal, wetlands"
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381) Se montre très envahissante, faisant localement des fourrés denses monospécifiques.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 69) Vouchers cited: Franc 2353, Jacques s.n., MacKee 4124, MacKee 15516, MacKee 28351, Bourret 109 (NOU)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 69) Voucher cited: MacKee 23595
Palau Hatohobei Group	Tobi Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 95)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 86)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Ngerkebesang Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Miles, Joel E./Tiobech, Joseph/Rengulbai, Kashgar (2003) (p. 81)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago		Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (pp. 490-491) Frequent in the Bazelle Peninsula and Duke of York Islands, in the gardens of the natives and their surroundings. Not observed in New Ireland, but planted by the writer at Ugana.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 70)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 67) Voucher: Flynn 6936 (PTBG, US, SAMOA)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 322) Taxon name on voucher: Ocimum gratissimum
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Lifuka and Foa Islands	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 73)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 54)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 236) Cited: Moseley.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 67)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Cultivated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced	Stoddart, D. R./Taylor, J. D., eds. (1971) (p. 157) Voucher cited: Stoddart 964 (K, US)
British Indian Ocean Territory Chagos Archipelago	Diego Garcia Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 28)
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 33)
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) Naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant.
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  An invasive species throughout the southern group of the Cook Islands.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Ocimum gratissimum, please let us know.