Dark Opal Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Purpurascens')

While Dark Opal Basil is a cultivar (a cultivated variety) of *Ocimum basilicum* (sweet basil), its genetic origin traces back to the general region of sweet basil itself, which is generally considered to be:

* **Southeast Asia and India:** This is the likely region where basil originated and where wild relatives are found.

Dark Opal Basil, being a cultivated variety, was specifically bred in the **United States** (University of Connecticut) in the 1950s. However, its genetic heritage is still rooted in the original geographical location of its parent species.