Cilantro: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:19, 31 May 2025

Introduction

Coriandrum sativum, commonly known as cilantro or coriander, is an annual herb belonging to the Apiaceae family, which includes plants like carrots, celery, and parsley^[1]^[2]. This versatile plant is native to southern Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia but is now cultivated worldwide^[3]. It is renowned for its dual use: the leaves are used as a fresh herb (cilantro), while the seeds are used as a spice (coriander)^[4]^[5]. The plant was designated as the Herb of the Year in 2017 by the International Herb Association^[6].

Characteristics

Physical Characteristics: Coriandrum sativum grows up to 1 to 2 feet tall with a slender stem and bipinnate leaves that are variable in shape, becoming more feathery as the plant matures^[7]^[8]. The flowers are small, white or pale pink, and arranged in umbels^[9]^[10].
Growing Conditions: It thrives in cool climates with medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade^[11]. However, it tends to bolt (go to seed) in hot weather and does not survive hard freezes^[12].
Lifecycle: As an annual plant, it completes its lifecycle within a year. For leaf production, it takes about 45-80 days, while seed production requires a longer growing season of at least 100 days^[13].

Why is this crop useful for space?

Cilantro could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons: - Nutritional Value: It is a source of vitamins A and K, and minerals like potassium and manganese, making it a nutritious addition to space diets^[14]. - Easy to Grow: Being relatively easy to grow in controlled environments, it could provide a fresh herb source in space missions^[15]. - Air Purification: Like many plants, it could contribute to air purification by removing CO2 and releasing O2, improving the air quality in space habitats. - Psychological Benefits: Growing plants in space can have psychological benefits for astronauts, providing a sense of connection to nature and improving mental well-being.

History of Cultivation in Space

Currently, there is no specific information available on the cultivation of Coriandrum sativum in space. However, NASA and other space agencies have conducted experiments on growing various plants in space to assess their feasibility for future long-duration missions. These experiments often focus on plants that are easy to grow and provide nutritional benefits, such as lettuce and radishes. As space agriculture continues to evolve, herbs like cilantro might be considered for future missions due to their ease of growth and nutritional value.

References

[1] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[2] ttps://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047

[3] ttps://healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/coriander-cilantro-complete-care-guide-for-coriandrum-sativum

[4] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[5] ttps://britannica.com/plant/coriander

[6] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[7] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum

[8] ttps://britannica.com/plant/coriander

[9] ttps://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047

[10] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum

[11] ttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum

[12] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[13] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[14] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum

[15] ttps://healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/coriander-cilantro-complete-care-guide-for-coriandrum-sativum

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{PlantProfile
-| scientific_name = Coriandrum sativum
+| scientific_name = Coriandrum Sativum
 | family = Apiaceae
-| varieties = <li>Confetti (ID: 163)</li>
+| varieties = <li>Cruiser (ID: 222)</li>
-<li>Default (ID: 91)</li>
-<li>Calypso (ID: 40)</li>
-<li>Santo (ID: 161)</li>
 }}
 <span id="introduction"></span>
 == Introduction ==
-'''Coriandrum sativum''', commonly known as cilantro or coriander, is an annual herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. It is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia<ref>https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047</ref><ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>. The plant is renowned for its culinary and medicinal uses, with the leaves being used as the herb cilantro and the seeds as the spice coriander<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>. '''Coriandrum sativum''' has been recognized for its bioactive phytochemicals, which exhibit a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties<ref>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29433220</ref>.
+'''Coriandrum sativum''', commonly known as cilantro or coriander, is an annual herb belonging to the Apiaceae family, which includes plants like carrots, celery, and parsley<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref><ref>https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047</ref>. This versatile plant is native to southern Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia but is now cultivated worldwide<ref>https://healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/coriander-cilantro-complete-care-guide-for-coriandrum-sativum</ref>. It is renowned for its dual use: the leaves are used as a fresh herb (cilantro), while the seeds are used as a spice (coriander)<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref><ref>https://britannica.com/plant/coriander</ref>. The plant was designated as the Herb of the Year in 2017 by the International Herb Association<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
 <span id="characteristics"></span>
 == Characteristics ==
-* '''Physical Characteristics''': The plant grows up to 50 cm tall, with variable leaf shapes and small white or pale pink flowers in umbels<ref>https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047</ref>. The leaves have a pungent, sweet-musky odor and taste, while the seeds are sweetly aromatic, nutty, and spicy<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
+* '''Physical Characteristics''': Coriandrum sativum grows up to 1 to 2 feet tall with a slender stem and bipinnate leaves that are variable in shape, becoming more feathery as the plant matures<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum</ref><ref>https://britannica.com/plant/coriander</ref>. The flowers are small, white or pale pink, and arranged in umbels<ref>https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/taxonomy/4047</ref><ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
-* '''Growing Conditions''': Cilantro is a cool-season crop that thrives in well-drained soil with full sun to light shade. It bolts easily in hot climates and does not survive hard freezes<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
+* '''Growing Conditions''': It thrives in cool climates with medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade<ref>https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/coriandrum-sativum</ref>. However, it tends to bolt (go to seed) in hot weather and does not survive hard freezes<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
-* '''Lifecycle''': It is an annual plant, completing its lifecycle within a year. For leaf production, it takes about 45-80 days, while seed production requires a longer growing season of at least 100 days<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
+* '''Lifecycle''': As an annual plant, it completes its lifecycle within a year. For leaf production, it takes about 45-80 days, while seed production requires a longer growing season of at least 100 days<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>.
 <span id="why-is-this-crop-useful-for-space"></span>
 == Why is this crop useful for space? ==
-Cultivating '''Coriandrum sativum''' in space could offer several benefits: - '''Nutritional Value''': As a source of essential nutrients and antioxidants, it could contribute to a balanced diet in space missions. - '''Medicinal Properties''': Its bioactive compounds could provide health benefits, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which are crucial in space environments where oxidative stress may be heightened. - '''Psychological Benefits''': Fresh herbs can enhance meal quality and morale, which is important for long-duration space missions. - '''Low Maintenance''': Being a fast-growing crop, it could be easily integrated into hydroponic or aeroponic systems, which are common in space agriculture due to their water efficiency and space-saving design.
+Cilantro could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons: - '''Nutritional Value''': It is a source of vitamins A and K, and minerals like potassium and manganese, making it a nutritious addition to space diets<ref>https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/cilantro-coriander-coriandrum-sativum</ref>. - '''Easy to Grow''': Being relatively easy to grow in controlled environments, it could provide a fresh herb source in space missions<ref>https://healthyhouseplants.com/indoor-houseplants/coriander-cilantro-complete-care-guide-for-coriandrum-sativum</ref>. - '''Air Purification''': Like many plants, it could contribute to air purification by removing CO2 and releasing O2, improving the air quality in space habitats. - '''Psychological Benefits''': Growing plants in space can have psychological benefits for astronauts, providing a sense of connection to nature and improving mental well-being.
 <span id="history-of-cultivation-in-space"></span>
 == History of Cultivation in Space ==
-Currently, there is no specific information available on the cultivation of '''Coriandrum sativum''' in space. However, NASA and other space agencies have conducted experiments on growing various crops in controlled environments to support future long-term missions. These experiments often focus on leafy greens and other fast-growing plants, making cilantro a potential candidate for future space cultivation projects.
+Currently, there is no specific information available on the cultivation of Coriandrum sativum in space. However, NASA and other space agencies have conducted experiments on growing various plants in space to assess their feasibility for future long-duration missions. These experiments often focus on plants that are easy to grow and provide nutritional benefits, such as lettuce and radishes. As space agriculture continues to evolve, herbs like cilantro might be considered for future missions due to their ease of growth and nutritional value.
 == References ==
 <references />