106 The Coriander. 



involucres universal, one-leaved ; partial halved ; fruit spherical. 

 It is a native of the fields of Europe, but in the opinion of many, 

 merely naturalized there from the extensive cultivation, and that 

 it came originally from Italy. It is an exotic in our country, and 

 not much cultivated, as we import the seeds from Europe. 

 The Coriandrum Sativum — Coriander, is a yearly plant, 

 about from twenty to twenty-six inches in height, with a smooth 

 round stem, which is generally branching, with leaves somewhat 

 resembling those of the common parsley. The flowers, which 

 appear in June, are of a white or whitish-red color, and disposed 

 in subdivided umbels, like, as we have before mentioned, to a 

 great many of its order. The germen ripens in August ; the 

 flower-cup remains at the base, and it is sometimes even pointed 

 with the style. This curious plant seems to-, have a double 

 smell ; when first gathered it is exceedingly offensive and dis- 

 gusting, the peculiar fetid odor keeping every one at a distance, 

 and entirely preventing its use, and acting as a link to bind it to 

 the poisonous plants with which it claims affinity in the same 

 order ; and very probably it is for this very purpose the smell is 

 given out, for after some time both smell and taste become grate- 

 fully aromatic, and we obtain a useful medicine. The volatile oil, 

 to which both are owing, may be easily obtained by distillation 

 with water, and thus furnish us with all its active properties in 

 an elegant and pleasing form for exhibition. As the oil will 

 dissolve in alcohol, maceration in that article will cause its pro- 

 perties to be equally well procured ; but to water used in the 

 same way little or no power is given. 



It grows best in a sandy loam ; the seeds should be sown as 

 soon as the frost will permit, which will generally be in the 

 mild and dry portion of March. The seed should be buried half 

 an inch. Half an ounce will suffice for a bed six feet long and 

 four wide, if sown in rows, as they ought to be, at distances of 

 nine inches apart. 



The unfavorable account given us of this plant by Diosco- 

 rides, was probably owing to the fresh state in which it was 

 taken, as similar results to those which he describes are at the 

 present day found to be produced when the recently gathered 

 plant is eaten in Spain and Egypt, where mania, lethargy, and 

 other disorders of the brain, follow its exhibition as a cordial. 

 At the present day the seeds are very extensively used by the 



