Coriander (UK /ˌkɒrɪˈændə/;US /ˈkɔːriˌændər/ or /ˌkɔːriˈændər/;Coriandrum sativum), also known as cilantro (/sɪˈlɑːntroʊ/),Chinese parsley or dhania, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae.

Coriander is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and northern Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft plant growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the center of the umbel longer (5–6 mm or 0.20–0.24 in) than those pointing toward it (only 1–3 mm or 0.039–0.118 in long). The fruit is a globular, dry schizocarp 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) in diameter. The seeds are generally used as a spice or an added ingredient in other foods or recipes, although sometimes they are eaten alone.

Etymology

First attested in English late fourteenth century, the word coriander derives from the Old French: coriandre, which comes from Latin: coriandrum, in turn from Ancient Greek: κορίαννον koriannon. The earliest attested form of the word is the Mycenaean Greek 𐀒𐀪𐀊𐀅𐀙 ko-ri-ja-da-na written in Linear B syllabic script, (reconstructed as koriadnon), (similar to the name of Minos's daughter Ariadne) which later evolved to koriannon or koriandron.

Coriander most often refers to:

Other plants

Other uses