Dried ripe seeds of Coriandrum sativum

Umbelliferae

Cultivation Cultivation • Well drained calcareous loamy soil• Fruits sown in March or soon after harvesting in

early autumn in rows 50cm apart • If sown in autumn plants are robust• Sown by drilling method • Crop is rotated by wheat / grains• Harvested after 100 days (usually in Aug ) in

early morning • Umbels are cut off by scissors when they ripen • In large fields Scythe / mowers used . Spread

on sheets in Sun & threshed • Separated fruits are further dried in a shed • During drying the fruits loose their

objectionable odor & acquire a warm agreeable odor & a sweet taste

Description Description • Shape sub spherical

crowned by 5 sepals

& a stylopod Each mericarp has

5 wavy primary ridges 8 straight secondary ridges

• Color brownish yellow• Odor aromatic• Taste spicy

Microscopy Microscopy Pericarp

• Epicarp

polygonal tubular cells Occassional stomataCalcium oxalate crystals

• Mesocarp

outer region middle region inner region

• Endocarp

• Testa

• Endosperm

Mesocarp

• Outer pitted , fusiform parenchyma• Middle sclerenchyma lignified

in outer layers longitudinally directed In inner layers tangentially directed

• Inner lignified parenchyma• V.B just below primary ridges region

• Vittae are present in immature fruit on dorsal surface but they gradually join to form slits

• In ripe fruits only 2 vittae on commissural surface

Endocarp Endocarp parquetry parquetry arrangementarrangement

Testa Testa brown flattened cells brown flattened cells Endosperm Endosperm curved curved

Constituents • Volatile oil ( 0.8 – 1%)

Coriandrol , Coriandryl acetate • Small amounts

Borneol , geraniol , pinene• Proteins • Fixed oil

Uses Uses • Carminative • Aromatic• Stimulant• Flavouring agent• Used along with purgatives to prevent

grippingVarieties distinguished by

no.of fruits per gram