Eryngium foetidum

The Long Coriander ( Eryngium foetidum ), and Mexican coriander, Culentro or Stinkdistel called, is a flowering plant in the family of the parsley family ( Apiaceae ). It is native to large areas of the Neotropics. Today Eryngium is foetidum widespread in many tropical to subtropical areas of the world. The specific epithet foetidum and some trivial name it owes an intense smell of coriander. The leaves are used as a medicinal herb and spice.

Description

The Long Coriander grows as a biennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of 8 to 40 cm. It is formed a thin taproot with a branched, fibrous root system. The stems are green. The many in a basal rosette standing together leaves are divided into leaf sheath, petiole and leaf blade. The leaf sheath is up to 3 cm long. The petiole is short and rudimentary. The simple, dark green and bare leaf blade is 5-25 cm long, 1.2 to 4 cm wide, lanceolate or lanceolate with wedge-shaped upside - down to running Spreitenbasis and blunt tip. The leaf margin is callous or notched to fine thorny cut (hence the English common name "sawtooth coriander " directly translated " sawtooth coriander "). It is a feathery Netznervatur available. The stem leaves are deeply against permanent thorny cut to split.

In a branched, three -forked total inflorescence capitate many partial inflorescences stand together. The capitate inflorescences are on short Blütenstandsschäften. The kopfige part of inflorescence emerged from a reduced single umbel. By four to seven spread to curl back, with a length of 1.5 to 3.5 cm and a width of 0.4 to 1 cm, lanceolate, foliage leaf-like, one to three peaks at the edge of owning bracts just below the flower heads receives the Long coriander a thistle -like appearance. The 1.5 to 1.8 cm long and about 0.6 mm wide, lanceolate bracts are at the edge of light trockenhäutig. The pointed calyx teeth ovate - lanceolate with a length of 0.5 to 1 mm. The white of light yellow petals are about the same length as the calyx teeth. The upright, about 1.1 mm long stylus overhang the calyx teeth.

The 1.1 to 1.3 mm long, ovate - globular fruit is covered with warts. From April to December, both flowers and fruits are available.

Dissemination

The Long Coriander is native to Central America, where he usually culantro or cilantro is called (which can be misleading because cilantro also the common word for coriander is ). In the north of Nicaragua called him both Culantro and Chicoria. Its natural neotropisches distribution extends from southern Mexico to Bolivia and also includes the Caribbean islands. Today, he is also cultivated in the Asian tropics, especially the Southeast Asian peninsula.

System

The first publication of Eryngium foetidum was made by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum. Foetidum synonyms for Eryngium L. are: Eryngium antihystericum Rottb, Eryngium antithystericum Rottb, Eryngium foetidum fo. .. comosum Urb., Eryngium foetidum fo. nudum H. Wolff, Eryngium Mølleri Gand ..

Smell and ingredients

All parts of the plant, especially the leaves give off a strong smell, reminiscent of coriander leaves. The ingredients responsible for this are similar to the coriander, long-chain aldehydes, especially 2-E - dodecenal and dodecanal. Furthermore, aromatic aldehydes such as 2,3,6- trimethyl benzaldehyde were found.

Use

In folk medicine, the countries of origin long coriander is used in many ways: They used it mainly for digestive complaints, as sweat and as a diuretic and stimulant.

In the kitchen as long coriander coriander are used. With the fresh leaves to flavor salads and Caribbean sauces ( salsas ) and garnished dishes before serving. Long Coriander should always be used raw and fresh, as great flavor losses occur both during drying and during prolonged cooking.