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            <div align="justify"><strong class="headmain-orange">Basil  Seed</strong><br />
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            <div align="justify"><strong>A Definition</strong><br />
            Basil is an aromatic, low growing herb the leaves of which  have a bright green to purple ovate colour, and is grown in warm,  tropical climate. It belongs to the botanical family of 'Ocimum  Bailicum', more commonly known as mint. It is grown on a mass scale in  central and tropical Asia and Africa and has been cultivated for as long  as 5000 years. In India, it is known as the sacred 'Tulsi' and holds a  major religious significance. The basil leaves are known to have many  medicinal and other healing properties and are strongly recommended by  physicians practising Ayurveda.
            <p>The basil plant grows anywhere between 30-130 cms., and  has light green, silky leaves that are 3-11 cms long and 1&ndash;6 cm broad.  The flowers of the basil plant are big, white in colour and have  terminal spikes. The plant has a strong, sweet and pungent smell. Its  growth is best during the summer season, since it is extremely sensitive  to cold. Most of the variety of basils are annuals, i.e., they grow and  die in the same year, while others are perennial, i.e, they grow for  more than two years.</p>
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                                    <div align="justify"><strong>History of Basil</strong><br />
                                    Basil first originated in Asia and Africa. It  was brought to Greece by the legendary warrior Alexander the Great, in  around 350 BC. In 1500, it came to England, via India and finally came  to USA during the 1600s. Basil held a deep significance for people  during those times. It was believed to be a symbol of both love &amp;  hatred, life &amp; death, and danger &amp; protection. In India, it is  termed as the holy basil, and its cultivation in India started 3000  years back in the courtyards or temples. In Egypt, the basil was used to  embalm the mummies while in Greece, because of its embalming effects,  it was used as a symbol of mourning. It was known there as 'basilikon  phuton', meaning magnificent, royal or kingly herb.</div>
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                                    <div align="justify"><strong>Etymology of Basil</strong><br />
                                    The term 'basil' is derived from the Greek  term 'basileus' which means 'king', and is believed to have grown above  the spot where the Holy Cross was discovered by St. Constantine and  Helen. In different countries, they are known by many different names.   In India, it is known by the name of 'tulsi'. While in Russia, it is  known as 'vasilki', in Iceland, it is known as 'basil&iacute;ka'.<br />
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                                    <td colspan="2"><strong>Types of Cultivated Basils </strong><br />
                                    There are a wide variety of basils that are  cultivated to be used in various different endeavors. Their variety  depends upon the shape and colour of the leaves. Some of the common  basils that are cultivated are:<br />
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                                        <li><strong>Sweet Basil: </strong>Also known  as common basil, this type of  basil is used mostly used in cuisines  and also in medicines. Italian  cuisines make the maximum use of this  basil, and it is also used in  Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. Their  leaves are as tall as 2-3 inches  and appear in bright green colour. It  smells like a clove.&nbsp; In India,  it is known by the name of Tulsi</li>
                                        <li><strong>Scented Basil: </strong>In Latin  language, it is known as 'Ocimum  Basilicum Odoratum'. This basil is  used in cuisines to add a distinct  flavor to the dish. It is most often  used for preserving the freshness  of fruits as well as in custards and  sharbats. The various basils that  come in this category are cinnamon,  lemon and anise</li>
                                        <li><strong>Holy Basil:</strong> Used for  mainly religious purposes, this basil  has leaves that are hazy and  small with a fragrance that of a sweet  clove. Its flowers are either  violet or white in colour. It is  recommended not to be used for cooking  purpose. The Latin name for this  kind of basil is 'Ocimum Canum' or  'Ocimum Sanctum'</li>
                                        <li><strong>Camphor Basil:</strong>  Scientifically, it is known as 'Ocimum  Kilimandscharicum'. Its leaves  are of gray-green colour and have a  strong medicinal smell. It is used  in the form of tea to cure stomach  ailments and is also used in sachets  to protect woolen clothes</li>
                                        <li><strong>Purple Basil: </strong>Its  scientific name is 'Ocimum Basilicum  Purpurascens'. The leaves are the  same as that of a sweet basil. It is  known for its culinary skills and  excellent ornamental foliage</li>
                                        <li><strong>'Genovese' Basil: </strong>Known  by the scientific name of 'Ocimum  Basilicum Genovese', this basil has  dark green leaves that grows up to  2 inches long. It is used on a large  scale in pesto and garlic dishes</li>
                                        <li><strong>Lettuce Leaf Basil:</strong> Used  largely as dressings in salads or  in sauce, it does not taste much as  compared to other green basils. The  scientific name of this type of  basil is 'Ocimum Basilicum Crispum'.  Its leaf is quite wide and large.  Some of the common types of this kind  of basil are 'mammoth,'  'napoletano,' and 'green ruffles'.</li>
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                                    <p align="JUSTIFY"><strong>Basil Seeds</strong><br />
                                    The basil seeds, when soaked in water,  become rubber like and very soft in texture. These are then used in a  number of drinks like sharbat and in sweet dishes like 'falooda'. The  various types of basil seeds are sabja, subja, takmaria, tukmaria,  falooda, há»™t &eacute;, etc. These seeds are famous for their medicinal  properties and are used in  Ayurveda.</p>
                                    <p><strong>Growing Basil from Seeds</strong><br />
                                    To get the desired benefits of the basil  plant, the plant itself needs to be taken care, right from the very  first stage of sowing the seeds. This stage is the most crucial and  determines how strong the plant will grow. Following are some of the  tips that can be useful in this regard:</p>
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                            <li>The first step is to decide what kind of basil  one would like to  grow. While cinnamon basil has large and beautiful  flowers growing in  them and smells like a sweet spice, lemon basil  smells a bit like  lemon, and is the easiest plant to grow</li>
                            <li>Sow the seeds indoors for at least 6 weeks  before the last frost  date. The seeds should be sown 1/8&quot; inches deep  in full sun. Since it  is extremely sensitive to cold, it is advisable  not to transplant it  until two weeks after the frost</li>
                            <li>Put one or two seeds in separate containers and  cover the seeds  lightly with soil. Use a clean plastic wrap to cover  the container  tightly with them. Place them under the sun. Once the  leaves emerge,  remove the plastic and give them their regular dose of  water without  fail</li>
                            <li>Slowly, leaves will star forming inside the  container. These  basil leaves can then be planted outside in a garden.  Since they cannot  tolerate frost, so care should be taken to ensure  that they are not  planted too early</li>
                            <li>If the basils are required for cooking purposes,  make sure that  flowers do not bloom as their blooming reduces the  flavor of the basil  leaves drastically. To avoid their blooming, pinch  off the flowers and  the two pars of leaves under them.</li>
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                        <p align="justify"><strong>Cultural Importance of Basil</strong><br />
                        Basil is not just a good source of cooking and  health, but has also  been revered in many countries as being pious and  pure. It is believed  that basil was found around the tomb of Jesus  Christ when he was  resurrected. In India, it is largely used in  religious ceremonies and  functions. In Europe, basil was placed in the  hands of dead to ensure  their safe journey abode. According to ancient  Greek and ancient  Egyptians, the use of basil was considered to open  the gateway for  heaven for those who passed away.</p>
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                                    <p><strong>Health Benefits of Basil</strong><br />
                                    Basils come with loads of health benefits  and have always been referred  by the doctors of the ancient times. Some  of the major benefits of  basils are:</p>
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                                        <li>Basils are a rich source of key  nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin  C, calcium and phosphorus. The  presence of Vitamin A helps is  strengthening eyesight</li>
                                        <li>Basils also contain antioxidants like beta carotene that help in  preventing cell damage</li>
                                        <li>'Tulsi', or the holy basil, is famous  throughout the globe for  its healing and other medicinal properties.  Its leaves are helpful in  sharpening memory and in curing fever and  common cold</li>
                                        <li>They also act as an anti stress agent and  also help in purifying  blood. This, in turn, helps in reducing the risk  of heart attacks and  also lowers the cholesterol level</li>
                                        <li>The leaves of the basil are also effective in reducing mouth  ulcer and other infections of the mouth</li>
                                        <li>People suffering from arthritis can  benefit a lot, when taken  with food, as the basil is also equipped with  anti-inflammatory  properties.</li>
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