Coriander is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and northern Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft plant growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the center of the umbel longer (5-6 mm) than those pointing toward it (only 1-3 mm). The fruit is a globular, dry schizocarp 3-5 mm (0.12-0.20 in) in diameter. Most people perceive the taste of coriander leaves as a tart, lemon/lime taste, but a smaller group, of about (4-14 %) of people tested, thinks the leaves taste like bath soap, as linked to a gene which detects aldehyde chemicals also present in soap.