Basil

Basil is an annual herb which is native to India and Iran. In India it was a sacred herb and it was believed that if a leaf of basil was buried with them it would be a passport to heaven. Basil is grown commercially in the Mediterranean and in California. The botanical name for Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is derived from the Greek "to be fragrant." In ancient Rome the name for Basil was Basilescus, in reference to Basilisk, the fire breathing dragon. They thought that ingesting basil would protect them against Basilisk. In Haiti basil is thought to belong to the goddess Erzulie, and in Italy basil is regarded as a sign of love. In Romania if a young lady offers a young man a sprig of basil, and he accepts, they are officially engaged.