Family: Apiaceae
Origin, Description & Uses
Eryngium foetidum, commonly known as culantro, spiny coriander, or fitweed, is a tropical herb native to the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of northern South America. It grows as a low, basal rosette of long, narrow leaves with spiny, serrated edges and a strong aroma similar to cilantro. Culantro is widely used in Caribbean, Latin American, and Southeast Asian cuisines, where its bold flavor enhances soups, stews, and sauces. It is also occasionally cultivated in home gardens and used in traditional herbal practices.
Risks & Threats
In Hawaiʻi, Eryngium foetidum is naturalized in some areas and is potentially naturalizing on Molokaʻi. It possesses traits that are cause for concern, including rapid growth, abundant seed production, and the ability to thrive in shaded, moist, and disturbed habitats. These characteristics allow it to escape cultivation and spread into surrounding environments, where it may compete with native understory vegetation and contribute to shifts in plant community structure. Its spiny leaves may also discourage grazing, further aiding its persistence. Because of these risks, this species could detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems. It is recommended to avoid planting culantro and instead choose a low-risk or native alternative for culinary or landscaping use.
High Risk Traits:
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Widely naturalized, including possibly Oahu (Hawaiian Islands)
- Disturbance-adapted weed
- Potential crop weed (impacts unspecified)
- Other Eryngium species are invasive
- Spiny leaves
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by suckers
- Reaches maturity between 1st and 2nd year
- Seeds small and dispersed by wind, potentially by animals (externally), and intentionally planted by people
- Able to resprout after repeated pruning
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite widespread reports of weediness, negative impacts generally unspecified
- Provides fodder for livestock
- Valued as a food and medicinal plant
