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Useful Tropical Plants

Ocimum campechianum

Mill.

Lamiaceae

+ Synonyms

Ocimum micranthum Willd.

Ocimum montanum Hook.

Ocimum pubescens Mill. ex Benth.

Common Name:

Ocimum campechianum
Ocimum campechianum Ocimum campechianum Ocimum campechianum Ocimum campechianum

General Information

Ocimum campechianum is an erect, sparsely-branched, annual plant growing 20 - 50cm tall[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
468
Title
The Bahama Flora
Publication
 
Author
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.
].
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food flavouring, tea and medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
,
468
Title
The Bahama Flora
Publication
 
Author
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.

Range

S. America - Argentina northwards through most of south America; C. America to Mexico; through the Caribbean to Florida.

Habitat

Waste and cultivated ground in the Bahamas[
468
Title
The Bahama Flora
Publication
 
Author
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.
]. Moist to dry thickets or open fields, often on rocky hillsides or on gravel and sand bars along streams, at elevations up to 1,300 metres in Guatemala[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitAnnual
Height0.40 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The Maya plant this weed near graves and also put it in a flowerpot and on the altar of the church[
676
Title
Anthropological Papers Nos. 27 - 32
Publication
Bureau of American Ethnology. Bulletin 136.
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
US Government Printing Office; Washington.
Year
1943
ISBN
 
Description
A series of papers, including one looking at 100 often used native plants of the Yucatan.
].

Edible Uses

The leaves and young stems are used as a flavouring in soups and stews[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
].

The dried, fragrant leaves are used to make a tea[
478
Title
Botanical Museum Leaflets Vol 11
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University; Cambridge, Mass.
Year
1945
ISBN
 
Description
Includes an article on the Economic Plants of S. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

The plant is much used in domestic medicine in Guatemala for treating colds and stomach disturbances. The principal use of the plant, however, is as a remedy for the screw worms that sometimes parasitize the nasal passages of people in the tropics. The leaves are pulverized and placed inside the nose, after which it is said that the larvae emerge. A decoction of the plant also is used to kill the larvae[
331
Title
Flora of Guatemala
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark
Website
http://www.archive.org/
Publisher
 
Year
1946 - 1976
ISBN
 
Description
A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
]. The leaves are also used to combat parasitic ankylostome larvae that are embedded between toes - the area is first rubbed with Capsicum frutescens fruit, then the feet are placed in a hot bath of Ocimum in a decoction with Begonia glabra and Citrus aurantiifolia[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The whole plant is boiled and the liquid drunk to cure cases of dysentery[
676
Title
Anthropological Papers Nos. 27 - 32
Publication
Bureau of American Ethnology. Bulletin 136.
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
US Government Printing Office; Washington.
Year
1943
ISBN
 
Description
A series of papers, including one looking at 100 often used native plants of the Yucatan.
].

The leaves are antispasmodic and sedative[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. They are used to treat coughs and colds[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
,
561
Title
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol. 40
Publication
 
Author
Dorr L.J.; Stergios B.; Smith A.R.; Cuello N.L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
National Museum Natural History; Washington.
Year
2000
ISBN
 
Description
A catalogue of the vascular plants of Guaramacal National Park in Venezuela. Mainly a terse list of plants, but it contains some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Bunches of the leaves are applied to the ears as a remedy for earache[
411
Title
Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
Publication
Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
Author
Standley P.C.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution; Washington
Year
1926
ISBN
 
Description
Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The macerated leaves are used in a wash to treat fevers and are rubbed into the abdomen to relieve colic[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. An infusion is used as an eyewash[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. The bruised leaves are used for reducing tumours[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].
A tincture of the leaves in rum is employed as a lotion to relieve rheumatism[
493
Title
Flora of Yucatan
Publication
 
Author
Standley P.C.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago
Year
1930
ISBN
 
Description
The first flora that was attempted for this area in 1930, so it is obviously lacking information and the Botanical names can be out of date. Still, an excellent work and it records many plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The leaf juice and seed oil are used as an eyewash[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The finely powdered dried seeds are applied to the irritated eyes of children[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. They are used to treat film on eye[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The plant contains camphor, eugenol, methyleugenol and estragol[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
]. The essential oil is evidently an antiseptic[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

Other Uses

The curly whitish leaves are rubbed on horses to prevent the bites of horseflies[
676
Title
Anthropological Papers Nos. 27 - 32
Publication
Bureau of American Ethnology. Bulletin 136.
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
US Government Printing Office; Washington.
Year
1943
ISBN
 
Description
A series of papers, including one looking at 100 often used native plants of the Yucatan.
].

The aromatic twigs are inserted under wristbands or crushed and rubbed on the shoulders in order to apply a pleasant scent to the body[
521
Title
Useful Plants of the Siona and Secoya Indians of Eastern Ecuador.
Publication
Fieldiana Botany New Series No. 15
Author
Vickers W.T.; Plowman T.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History; USA.
Year
1984
ISBN
0015 - 0746
Description
Very terse, but it gives the uses of a large number of species. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually free and quick, prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant out when large enough.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ocimum+campechianum>

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