Field Basil (Clinopodium vulgare) Linnaeus, 1753 |
Synonyms: Wild Basil, Acinos vulgaris, Calamintha aegyptiaca, Calamintha clinopodium, Calamintha vulgaris, Clinopodium aegyptiacum, Clinopodium atropurpureum, Clinopodium clinopodium, Clinopodium origanifacie, Clinopodium plumosum, Clinopodium variegatum, Faucibarba clinopodium, Melissa vulgaris, Satureja clinopodium, Satureja vulgaris, Thymus clinopodium, Thymus sylvaticus |
Clinopodium vulgare is a perennial herb occurring in Europe, western and central Asia, North Africa and eastern North America. Although this species is native in eastern Canada and the United States (Clinopodium vulgare var. neogaea), some states and provinces list Field Basil as exotic. It grows on dry sandy or rocky soils in woodlands clearings, old fields, roadsides, gravel pits, dunes, and shores. C. vulgare flowers in June and July; the inflorescence consists of several loose clusters of pink, violet or purple flowers.