|
Coriandrum
sativum L.
Standardized Common
Name: Coriander
Other Common Name: Cilantro (leaf)
Family: Apiaceae
(Umbelliferae)
Taxonomy: Coriandrum
includes three species, all native to Southwest Asia. Coriandrum sativum
has been widely cultivated for thousands of years.
Description: Annual herb. Stem to
70 cm high, branching. Leaves basal and cauline; basal leaves long-petioled,
1-pinnate or pinnatisect, the segments ca. 1 cm long and ovate, with
crenate-serrate margins; stem leaves alternate, short-petioled, 2–3-pinnate,
segments linear. Inflorescences compound umbels on long peduncles,
2–6(–10)-rayed, bractless or with 1 linear bract; umbelets few-flowered,
subtended by small bracteoles; flowers small, calyx teeth unequal, petals white
to pinkish or purplish, outer petals spreading and bifid, anthers pink; both
hermaphroditic and male flowers present, the latter borne on shorter pedicels.
Fruit a schizocarp, globose, 2–5.5 mm in diameter, usually not separating into
mericarps; primary and secondary ribs present, not conspicuous.
Parts
in Commerce:
Fruits
Identification: See appendix for
explanation of the technical terms pertaining to umbel fruits.
- Schizocarps
globose or nearly so, with mericarps attached by broad commissure and
rarely splitting
- (2–)2.5–4.5(–5.5)
mm in diameter
- Yellowish brown
to pale dull brown; unripe fruit may dry black
- Primary ribs
delicate, undulating, inconspicuous, alternating with straight secondary
ribs
- Apex bearing
conical projecting beak (stylopodium), surrounded by 5 calyx teeth (often
knocked off in bulk material, but usually visible as small tubercles)
- Mericarps, when
separated, with deeply concave commissural face usually bearing 2 raised,
riblike vittae
- Odor aromatic,
mild when ripe; unripe fruit has unpleasant odor
- Taste
characteristic, mild, spicy
References:
Bentley R, Trimen H. Medicinal Plants. Vol. 2 Delhi: Periodical Expert Book Agency
and International Book Distributors; 1880 reprinted 1981:No. 133.
Greenish HG. Materia Medica. Jodhpur: Scientific Publishers (India); 1920
reprinted 1999:113–115.
Hedge IC, Lamond JM. Coriandrum. In: P. H.
Davis, ed. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vol. 4.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press; 1972:330–331.
Tutin TG. Coriandrum. In: Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA, et al.,
eds. Flora Europaea. Vol. 2. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press; 1968:328.
Youngken HW. Text-Book of Pharmacognosy, 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: The
Blakiston Company; 1943:635–637.
Figure 20: Coriandrum sativum fruit.
|
