Many names for two plants. Get ready for some confusion. Lemon basil (Ocimum x citriodorum) is also known as hoary basil, Thai lemon basil, and Lao basil. It is a hybrid between 'normal' basil (Ocimum basilicum) and American basil (Ocimum americanum). It smells so much like lemon verbena (also known as lemon beebrush) that my Italian guests (who nearly always know lemon verbena -Aloysia citriodora, often written Aloysia citriodora but also known as Aloysia triphylla or Lippia citriodora - but usually call it by one of several common names including citronella, erba luigia, erba luisa, erba cedrina). They swear that the little basil leaf they are holding and sniffing is "erba luigia". I show them the bush, obviously basil from a mile away, and some still insist: "Yeah, erba luigia! I know it. I grow it!" I marvel at how strongly we smell. People sometimes trust their noses more than their eyes. A strikingly familiar scent can temporarily blind us and make our fingertips forget textures! #lemonbasil #ocimumbasilicum #ocimumamericanum #ocimumxcitriodorum #erbaluisa #erbaluigia #lemonverbena #lemonbeebrush #lippiacitriodora #aloysia #aloysiacitrodora #aloysiacitriodora #lemonscented #italiangardens #botanicalconfusion #botany #aromaticherbs #manynamesforoneplant #lamacchinafissa #readingretreatsinruralitaly #mezzogiardiniere (presso La Macchina Fissa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1OIVGYIkZ_/?igshid=1rpv9jla97nww
