Just because the species are in two different genera that doesn't
necessarily mean the two genera are not closely related. There is such a
thing as intergeneric hybrids. Intergeneric hybrids have been reported in
the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) and in the closely allied Araliaceae.

Don't know if it would be possible to cross the two species by cross
pollination and get hybrid progeny. Fertility might possibly be restored by
doubling the chromosomes?

In this modern era of nuclear manipulation and gene splicing, almost
anything is possible. The question is whether going to all the effort and
experimentation to do so would be worth all the expense and time needed.


Pat Meadows wrote in message
...
On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 04:26:41 -0700, Matthew Montchalin
wrote:



And while we are on the subject, if cilanthro and parsley are
two different species, has anyone done any genetic engineering
yet to cross the two? Bypassing Darwin and Mendel, it must
be possible to create a hybrid between these two species... ?


Cilantro and parsley are not only different *species* they
are in different genuses.

Parsley is _Petroselinum crispum_ .

Cilantro is _Coriandrum sativum_ .

So they are not very closely related. They are in the same
family: the _Apiaceae_ .

I can't offhand think of any particular reason why anyone
would WANT a parsley/cilantro cross.

BTW, you can't bypass Darwin and Mendel...they didn't come
up with wild surmises, but worked out and elucidated some of
the laws of natu how things actually work in the real
world.

I suppose you could make a GMO cross: gentically-engineered
cross - gene splicing. But again: why would you WANT to?

Pat