Habit: Coleus scutellarioides grows as an herbaceous annual (sometimes perennial) up to 1 m in height with quadrangular stems. The leaves are arranged oppositely to 5 cm in length, ovate with a serrate/crenate margin and an apiculate leaf apex. Leaves glandular pubescent abaxially. All vegetative material is glandular pubescent.
The complete, perfect, zygomorphic flowers are arranged in racemes. The calyx has 5 fused, greenish sepals forming a tube that is covered with glandular pubescence. The corolla has 5, fused, blue to lavender petals with 3 lobes below and 2 lobes above. There are 4 stamens that are fused at the base forming a sheath around the carpel base. The ovary is superior with 4 locules each with a single seed. The fruit is a schizocarp of nutlets.
Habitat: Coleus scutellarioides grows in the Bahamas in Human Altered environments (yards, gardens).
Distribution: Ocimum basilicum is not native to the Lucayan Archipelago but is grown throughout the island groupings. It is native to southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Australia.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Coleus scutellarioides is not known to be used in the Bahamas medicinally.
It is grown as an ornamental.