Tala leaves
SLF 0000Common Classification Common Names Tulasi Sinhala Name Tala, Heen Tala, Scientific Classification Family Lamiaceae Genus Ocimum Scientific Name Ocimum ovatum Synonym Ocimum hassleri var. obtusifolium Ecology Category Weed-Herb-Ornamental-Wild Growth Habit Small-Shrub Duration Perennial Origin Indigenous Status Natural Property Culinary / Edible Yes Use as Herb Yes Other Use No Poisoned / Toxin No
Tala or Heen Tala plant commonly called in English as 'Tulsi' is a native plant to Sri Lanka. Also it is native to India and South America. Tala plant or Ocimum ovatum is a species of genus Ocimum in family Lamiaceae, closely related to Ocimum americanum also called Sinhalese is Tala or Sudu Tala that species of same genus Ocimum. The people often confuse with species in the Ocimum genus which are Ocimum americanum, Ocimum gratissimum, and Ocimum tenuiflorum and all of them are miss applied and cultivate as a "Tulsi" Plant or Holy Basil, which is a sacred plant native to India .
The Tala or Ocimum ovatum plant commonly found grass lands, edge of paddy field, or road side ways in dry zone in Sri Lanka as a weed and occasionally found on some areas of wet zone in low country as a naturally or cultivated plant. The plant grow as shrub up about to 1 meter in height. It is a herbal plant and people of inland in dry zone are widely used as an alternation of betel for betel quid.
The Tala or Ocimum ovatum plant commonly found grass lands, edge of paddy field, or road side ways in dry zone in Sri Lanka as a weed and occasionally found on some areas of wet zone in low country as a naturally or cultivated plant. The plant grow as shrub up about to 1 meter in height. It is a herbal plant and people of inland in dry zone are widely used as an alternation of betel for betel quid.
