芫荽属 yan sui shu

She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson

Herbs annual, strongly aromatic, glabrous throughout. Taproot slender. Stem erect, branched above. Leaves petiolate; blade pinnately dissected, membranous; ultimate segments very variable in shape. Umbels compound, lax, terminal or opposite the leaves; bracts absent (rarely 1); rays several, spreading, unequal; bracteoles several, linear. Calyx teeth short, acute, often unequal. Petals white or rose-pink, obovate, apex deeply notched, outer petals enlarged (radiant). Stylopodium conic; styles slender, erect. Fruit globose, not readily separating at maturity; pericarp hard; primary and secondary ribs filiform, evident; vittae absent or solitary, obscure in mature fruits. Seed face concave. Carpophore deeply bifid at apex.

Probably one species: Mediterranean region; cultivated in China.

Lower Taxon

• Coriandrum sativum Linnaeus