Sweet Basil

The word rayḥān is used for any plant with a sweet smell. According to Islamic scholar Al Jawziyyah, the people of Iraq and Syria associate rayḥān with sweet basil, whereas the Arabs of the west associate rayḥān with myrtle (also called ās or yās in Arabic).

Mentioned a few times in the Qur’ān, Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum, is considered to be one of God’s gifts to humankind. In Islamic tradition, smelling pleasant odours and looking at the greenery of trees and herbs were valued as beneficial for a person’s general wellbeing.

Painted from specimens found in Dubai, UAE. The artist also grew the plant from seed in New Zealand.

Grows at Kew in Edible Science: Kew’s Kitchen Garden.

Completed painting size: 54 x 80cm
Habit x 3, dissection details x 9
Watercolour on paper