Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Foliage | Compared to other cultivars of basil, 'Salad Leaf' has unusually large leaves which are ovate to elliptic (10 cm long). The leaf surface is very wrinkled and the leaf margin is lined with minute teeth that are widely spaced apart. |
|---|---|
| Flowers | White, tubular flowers are arranged in spikes. The leafy bracts surrounding the flowers are sparsely covered in long, white hairs, especially along the margin. |
| Fruit | Dry, indehiscent fruits are known as nutlets. |
| Cultivation | When plants are 15-20 cm tall, pinch the stem tips to help the plants become bushy. Remove the inflorescences as they form to promote leafy growth. It is important to fertilize regularly and keep the soil loose for good drainage. Leaves are best harvested by cutting the stem slightly above where 2 lateral branches have formed and are growing. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice): The leaves have a mild basil flavour which is somewhat buttery. They can be used as salad greens or a substitute for lettuce in sandwiches. They make nice appetizers when used as a wrapper to eat with cheese or ham. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Bulging in between Veins |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Rounded / Obtuse |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Individual Flower Shape | Labiate / Lipped |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Nut / Nutlet |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32231 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6639 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
