Basilicum is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described in 1802. It contains only one known species, Basilicum polystachyon, native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia (Saudi Arabia, India, China, Indochina, Borneo, Philippines, etc.), New Guinea, Australia, and various islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. References Lamiaceae Monotypic Lamiaceae genera Flora of Africa Flora of Asia Flora of Australia Flora of New Guinea