Practical
Plants

Coriandrum sativum

Coriander

an annual member of the Coriandrum genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.45 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant can have a narcotic effect if it is eaten in very large quantities[15].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in salads, soups etc[12][26][16][25][29] and the fresh leaves are probably the most widely used flavouring herb in the world[23]. The leaves have an aromatic flavour[11]. It is foetid according to another report[26], whilst another says that the fresh leaves have a strong bedbug-like smell[21].. The leaves should not be eaten in large quantities[3]. The fresh leaves contain about 0.012% oxalic acid and 0.172% calcium[20]. Seed - cooked. It is used as a flavouring in many dishes including cakes, bread and curries, it is also widely used to flavour certain alcoholic liquors[12][26][28][16][24][25]. The fresh seed has a disagreeable and nauseous smell, but when dried it becomes fragrant, the longer it is kept the more fragrant it becomes[26][3]. Plants yield about 1¾ tonnes per acre of seed[26]. The root is powdered and used as a condiment[7]. An essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring[16][27][29][2]

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Coriander is a commonly used domestic remedy, valued especially for its effect on the digestive system, treating flatulence, diarrhoea and colic[31][21]. It settles spasms in the gut and counters the effects of nervous tension[22]. The seed is aromatic, carminative, expectorant, narcotic, stimulant and stomachic[26][31][16][27][6][9][15][19]. It is most often used with active purgatives in order to disguise their flavour and combat their tendency to cause gripe[26][21]. The raw seed is chewed to stimulate the flow of gastric juices and to cure foul breath[20][23] and will sweeten the breath after garlic has been eaten[22]. Some caution is advised, however, because if used too freely the seeds become narcotic[26]. Externally the seeds have been used as a lotion or have been bruised and used as a poultice to treat rheumatic pains[22][23]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Appetite stimulant'[17].

Product or use
Antihalitosis
Product or use
Aromatherapy
Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Narcotic
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring, in perfumery, soap making etc[16][27][29][30][2]. It is also fungicidal and bactericidal[19]. The growing plant repels aphids[4][13][15]. A spray made by boiling of one part coriander leaves and one part anise seeds in two parts of water is very effective against red spider mites and woolly aphids[15]. An oil from the seed is used for making soap[30]. The report does not make it clear if the essential oil or the fixed oil is used[K]. The seed contains about 20% fixed oil[20], this has potential for industrial use in Britain, it could become an alternative to oilseed rape though the oil content is a bit on the low side at present (1995). The oil can be split into two basic types, one is used in making soaps etc, whilst the other can be used in making plastics[18]. The dried stems are used as a fuel[30].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Fungicide
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Oil
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
S. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[8].
Habitat
Waste places and arable land, often by the sides of rivers[26][31].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow April in situ[1][25]. The seed is slow to germinate and so on a garden scale it can also be sown in March in a cold frame. Sow a few seeds in each pot and then plant them out when they are growing away strongly in May[26]. The seed can also be sown in situ in the autumn[1]. Autumn sown plants will grow bigger and produce more seed.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a warm dry light soil[26][24][25]. Plants grown mainly for their seeds do well in partial shade, but when growing for the seed or essential oil a sunny position is preferred[19]. The plants dislike constant moisture[4] or too much nitrogen[14]. Another report says that coriander grows best when a cool damp spring is followed by a hot dry summer[19]. Coriander tends to run quickly to seed if the plants are too dry at the seedling stage[19]. Plants tolerate a pH in the range 4.9 to 8.3. Coriander is often cultivated, both on a garden scale and commercially, for its edible seed[26][5], there are some named varieties[11]. The plant is fast-growing, ripening its seed without difficulty in Britain and it seems to be free of pests and diseases[18]. The seeds have been used medicinally and as a food flavouring since ancient times, and were introduced into Britain by the Romans[21]. In the Middle Ages they were added to love potions because of their reputation as aphrodisiacs[21]. The plants flowers are very attractive to pollinating insects[4][10][15]. Coriander is in general a good companion plant in the garden, helping to repel aphis and carrot root fly[19]. It grows well with anise, improving the germination rate when the two species are sown together[4][10][13][19], but it grows badly with fennel, where it acts to reduce the seed yield of the fennel[4][10][13][15][19]. Coriander also grows particularly well with dill and chervil[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-12-136450-x

    ↩

  6. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩

  7. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  8. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  9. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  10. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  13. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  15. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  16. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9

    ↩

  18. - Radio 4 Farming Programme, 25/08/95. - 1995-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  19. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  20. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  22. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  24. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2

  25. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  26. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  27. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  28. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  29. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

  30. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  31. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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