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Araliaceae
Panax

not marked as a favorite taxon Panax quinquefolius Linnaeus. Common name: Ginseng, Sang, American Ginseng. Phenology: May-Jun; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Cove forests, mesic hardwood forests, generally in nutrient-rich forests though tending to avoid the richest coves. Distribution: ME and QC west to MN and SD, south to e. VA, e. NC, nc. SC, sw. GA, s. AL, s. MS, e. LA, and OK.

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: P. quinquefolius is gathered in quantity throughout its range for the herbal trade; most of the North American harvest is shipped to China, where it is prized for medicinal uses. Dried roots command prices in excess of $1000 per kilogram; in our area, "sang" is a multimillion dollar industry. Formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced in most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals, a classic example of a "predator-prey" relationship. Collection and trade in ginseng is monitored and regulated in most states. In NC, it is illegal for ginseng dealers to buy ginseng from collectors before Sep; this allows the plants to mature fruits prior to collection. Schlessman (1985) discusses the floral biology of P. quinquefolius.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, F, FNA13, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, Ok, Pa, Tn, Va, W, WV, Frodin & Govaerts (2003), Haines (2020a), Smith (1944); = Panax quinquefolium L. — C, G, GrPl, RAB, S, S13, Tat, orthographic variant. Basionym: Panax quinquefolius L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Panax quinquefolius - FNA13

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Heliophily ⓘ: 2

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image #1 of Panax quinquefolius© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Panax quinquefolius© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Panax quinquefolius© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Panax quinquefolius© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Panax quinquefolius© Alan Cressler: Panax quinquefolius, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Fulton County, Georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Panax quinquefolius© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Panax quinquefolius© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Panax quinquefolius© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Panax quinquefolius© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Panax quinquefolius© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of mesic hardwood forests, such as cove forests and other generally nutrient-rich forests.

Stems: Stem solitary and arising from a spindle-shaped, forked root, unbranched, smooth; may be purple-tinged.

Leaves: Leaves 3 (1-5) in a whorl at top of stem, long-petiolate, palmately divided into 3-5 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets that are 2½-6 in. long, toothed, pointy-tipped and smooth, the two lower leaflets smaller than the others.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers 6-20 in a single umbel (to 3/4 in. wide) rising from the center of the leaf whorl; greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals, an insignificant calyx, 5 stamens and a divided style.

Fruits: Fruit a bright red, round berry.

Comments: The roots of this plant are harvested for the herbal trade, much of it shipped to China; formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced over most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals.

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of mesic hardwood forests, such as cove forests and other generally nutrient-rich forests.

stems: Stem solitary and arising from a spindle-shaped, forked root, unbranched, smooth; may be purple-tinged.

leaves: Leaves 3 (1-5) in a whorl at top of stem, long-petiolate, palmately divided into 3-5 elliptic to oblong-oval leaflets that are 2½-6 in. long, toothed, pointy-tipped and smooth, the two lower leaflets smaller than the others.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers 6-20 in a single umbel (to 3/4 in. wide) rising from the center of the leaf whorl; greenish-white; less than 1/4 in. wide; consisting of 5 spreading petals, an insignificant calyx, 5 stamens and a divided style.

fruits: Fruit a bright red, round berry.

comments: The roots of this plant are harvested for the herbal trade, much of it shipped to China; formerly abundant and occurring in large populations, P. quinquefolius has been reduced over most of its range to small populations of scattered individuals.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America



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