# Coriander (*Coriandrum sativum*)

Coriander is a fragrant herb with delicate leaves and small white flowers. It is commonly used in cooking to add flavor to dishes like soups, salads, and curries.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens, Farms
- **Also known as:** Chinese Parsley

![Coriander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Coriandrum_sativum_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-193.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coriandrum_sativum_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-193.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coriander has bright green, delicate leaves that are fern-like at the base and more feathery higher up. Its tiny white or pale pink flowers grow in umbrella-shaped clusters, making it look light and airy.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Apiales
- **Family:** Apiaceae
- **Genus:** Coriandrum

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Egyptians used coriander as medicine and even buried it with their pharaohs!
- Coriander seeds were found in caves from over 8,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest spices!
- If you rub its leaves, they can smell like citrus, pepper, or even a little bit like soap to different people!
- The word 'coriander' comes from a Greek word meaning 'bug,' because some people think it smells like stink bugs.

## Special abilities

- **Shape-Shifting Leaves:** Coriander has two different leaf shapes: broad, lobed ones near the bottom and delicate, feathery ones higher up, helping it catch sunlight efficiently.
- **Insect Magnet:** Its small, clustered flowers attract many helpful insects like bees and tiny wasps, which assist in pollination and pest control.
- **Powerful Perfume:** Coriander produces strong smelling compounds that give it a unique aroma, possibly helping to keep some hungry creatures away.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eats:** green peach aphid (*Myzus persicae*) — Sucks sap from leaves and stems.
- **Depends on:** convergent lady beetle (*Hippodamia convergens*) — Eats aphids found on the plant.

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.

## Collections

- [Herbs](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/herbs)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash coriander thoroughly before eating to remove any dirt or pesticides.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coriander?

Compare leaf shape and arrangement, stem structure, flowers and growth habit. Some poisonous plants look a lot like kitchen herbs, so looks alone never prove a plant is safe to eat. Herb Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Coriander?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Coriander spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on Coriander?

0.2-0.4 cm

### When does Coriander bloom?

Summer

### Is Coriander edible?

Yes

### Is Coriander toxic?

None

### What is Coriander's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Coriander: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coriander)