Dried ripe seeds of

Coriandrum sativum
Umbelliferae
 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
• 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
Pericarp
• Epicarp

polygonal tubular cells

Occassional stomata
Calcium 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 parquetry arrangement
Testa brown flattened cells
Endosperm curved

Constituents
• Volatile oil ( 0.8 – 1%)
Coriandrol , Coriandryl acetate
• Small amounts
Borneol , geraniol , pinene
• Proteins
• Fixed oil
 Uses
• Carminative
• Aromatic
• Stimulant
• Flavouring agent
• Used along with purgatives to prevent
gripping
Varieties distinguished by no.of
fruits per gram