Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

122 hIACeAE SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY
877), Pointe Ronde (Hodge 2733), Pringles Bay (Whitefoord
3737), Roseau (Nicolson 2082), Soufrihre (Lloyd 489, South
Chiltern (Hodge 1544, West Cabrit (Smith 10329).
Used in a febrifuge tea by Caribs (Hodge and Taylor,
1957502). Adjanohoun et al. (1985:115, pl. 82) cited several
other medicinal uses.
Leonurus Linnaeus
Leonurus sibincus
Leonurw sibiricw h ams, 1753:584.-Keng in Steenis, 1978,8:336.
Erect herb to 1 m; leaves deeply dissected, light green
beneath; flowers in axillary glomerules; corolla lavender,
showy.
Eastern Asiatic, now pantropic; occasional in Dominica
along west coast: Coulibistri (Ernst 1899), Pointe Ronde
(Hodge 2768), Roseau (Cooper 134), Soufrikre (Lloyd 413).
Leucas R. Brown
Leucas martinkensis
Leucar martinkensis (Jacquin) W.T Aiton, 1811,3:109.
Clinopodium martinicense Jaquin, 1760:25.
Weedy pubescent herb to 0.5 m; flowers white, in axillary
glomerules.
Neotropics; infrequent along west coast of Dominica:
Colihaut (Ernst 1661), sine loc. (Eggers s.n., Feb 1882).
Marsypianthes Martius ex Bentham
Marsypianthes chamaedrys
Marsypianthes chamaedy (Vahl) Kuntze, 1891,1:524.
Clinopodiwn chamaedrys Vahl, 1794,3:77.
Marsypiunthes hyptoides Martius ex Bentham, 183364, nom. illeg.
Prostrate, much branched, glandular-pubescent herb; fruiting
calyx expanded, purplish, calyx lobes triangular, not setose;
corolla lavender.
Neotropics; infrequent in dry areas of Dominica: Grand
Savanne (Ernst 2128, Wilbur 7632), Morne Bruce (Lloyd 738).
This species is easily confused with Hyptis atrorubens, from
which it may be distinguished by its linear floral bracts; those
of H. atrorubens are obovate.
Ocimum Linnaeus
Ocimum tenuiflorum Linnaeus (including Ocimum sanctum
Linnaeus), with decurrent margins of fruiting calyx not running
to calyx base and leaves with more obtuse apex and base, may
be cultivated on Dominica. Adjanohoun et al. (1985:123, pl.
89) reported its use in a tea.
1. Leaves lanceolate-elliptic, regularly and coarsely serrate,
pubescent ................. 0. gratissimum
1. Leaves ovate to elliptic, entire or irregularly serrate,
glabrous, except sometimes on veins.
2.
2.
Flowers k sessile; upper lobe of fruiting calyx rotundcordate,
wider than long, margins slightly reflexed . ..
....................... 0. basilicum
Flowers pedicellate; upper lobe of fruiting calyx
oblong-ovate, longer than wide, decurrent margins
strongly reflexed .......... 0. campechianum
Ocimum basilkum
Ocimwn basilicum hams, 1753~597.
Basilique, basimum.
Vigorous suffrutescent weed to 1 m; floral bracts persisting
past anthesis; upper calyx lobe broad, winged, and decurrent,
shorter than lower lip; nutlets elongate, black.
Old World, now cultivated worldwide; cultivated in Dominica
and apparently occasionally escaping: Cabrit swamp
(Whitefoord 4081), Coulibistri (Ernst 1398, 1689), La Plaine
(Nicolson 2053).
Adjanohoun et al. (1985121, pl. 87) reported a number of
medicinal usages.
One collection (Nicolson 2053) would fall within the
pubescence and size range of Ocimum americanum Linnaeus
(also called Ocimum canum Sims). According to Keng
(1969:128), chromosome studies on African collections may
indicate that 0. basilicum (2n = 48) is a tetraploid of 0.
americanum (2n = 24).
Ocimum campechianum
Ocimwn campechianwn Miller, 1768.-Howard, 1989,6:255.
Ocimum micranthwn Willdenow, 1809, hum., 630.
Wild basil, fon bazin, basilique, fromboisin.
Vigorous weedy herb to 0.5 m; floral bracts quickly
deciduous; upper calyx lobe broad, winged, and decurrent,
shorter than lower lip; nutlets elongate, brown.
Neotropics; sometimes cultivated in Dominica: Clarke Hall
(Nicolson 2075), Grand Savanne (Ernst 1052, Wilbur 7661),
Soufriere (Lloyd 440), Swamp Gutter (Hodge 880), Tarou
Cliffs (DeFilipps 160), West Cabrit (Smith 10335, Whitefoord
3985).
Hodge and Taylor (1957503) reported uses for this plant in
Carib good luck rituals, but one voucher (Hodge 3200 at US) is
0. gratissimum.
Ocimum gratissimum
Ocimwn gratissimwn Linnaeus, 1753:1197.
French basilique.
Shrubby weed to 1.2 m; leaves serrate, 5-12 cm long; upper
calyx lip upcurved, much longer than the lower lip, closing the