Ocimum polystachyon Linnaeus, Mant. Pl., ed. 2, 567. 1771; Moschosma polystachya (Linnaeus) Bentham; O. tenuiflorum N. Burman; Plectranthus parviflorus R. Brown.

Herbs erect. Stems to 1 m tall, glandular, scabrid on angles, puberulent on nodes. Petiole 1-5 cm; leaf blade lanceolate- to triangular-ovate, 2-7 × 1.2-5.5 cm, membranous, subglabrous, densely golden glandular, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin crenate above base, apex slightly acute; lateral veins 3- or 4-paired. Thyrses numerous, 3-6 cm, pedunculate, puberulent, glandular; bracts obovate-rhombic, ca. 1.5 mm. Calyx ca. 1.5 mm, ovoid-campanulate, minutely hispid near base, glabrous toward apex, sparsely golden glandular; posterior tooth broadly ovate, apex obtuse; lateral teeth smaller, triangular, apex acute; anterior teeth narrow, lanceolate, apex spinescent; fruiting calyx 2-2.5 mm, ovoid, slightly constricted at throat, declined, posterior tooth margin somewhat decurrent, ± conspicuously 10-veined. Corolla white to reddish, straight, cylindric, ca. 2.5 mm, sparsely puberulent, lips glandular, sparsely puberulent at throat just below upper lip inside, tube ca. 2 mm; upper lip lobes ovate, middle lobe longer; lower lip oblong, margin entire, flat, nearly as long as upper lip. Nutlets brown, ovoid, ca. 1 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug.

Waste areas, streamside thickets, valleys; 0-800 m. Hainan, Taiwan [Japan; Africa, Australia].