GINSENGPanax quinquefolia L.

Kingdom- Plantae (plants) Subkingdom-Travhebionta (Vascular) Superdivision-Spermaphyta (seed) Division-Magnoliophyta (flowering) Class- Magnoliopsida (dicotyldons) Subclass- Rosidae Order-Apiales Family-Arialaceae (ginseng family) Genus-Panax L. (ginseng) Species- Panax quinquefolia L.

Shape, Form, Type

8” to 15” tall.8”to 12” wide.Commonly has 5 leaves.Perrineal.

fig. 1

Bark

Greenish brown stem.Makes up most of the height of the tree.

fig. 2

Twig

Brown twig coming off of the main stem.

fig. 3

Leaf

Long stalked, compound leaves.Horse-Nut shaped leaves.Usually 5 finely toothed leaflets on each leaf. Leaflets about 5” long.

fig. 4

Bud

One bud per twig.Five leaflets grow out of the one bud.Green in color and small.

fig. 5

FlowerA small group of yellow, white, or green flowers.Bloom in late spring or early summer.Bloom in the center of the main leaf.Slightly aromatic but not very visually appealing.

fig. 6

Fruit

From each cluster of flowers grows red berries.

fig. 7

Habitat and Range

Grows from Eastern to Midwest United States. From Texas up to parts of the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

fig. 8

UsesGrown for medicinal purposes in China for centuries. Its root is used as seasoning in recipes.

fig. 9

Resourcesfig. 1-Plant. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/paqu--wp65563.htmfig. 2-Bark. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/paqu--st65559.htmfig. 3-Twig. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/paqu--st65561.htmfig. 4-Leaf. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/paqu--lf65554.htmfig. 5-Bud. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/rareplants/conservation/images/panax_quinquefolius_lg.jpg fig. 6-Flower. [Web]. Retrieved from http://sparkleberrysprings.com/v-web/b2/images/a/arapanqui2.jpgfig. 7-Fruit. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/paqu--wpin-fruit-num14e5337.htmfig. 8-Map. [Web]. Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearchfig. 9-Root. [Web]. Retrieved from http://freakysalad.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/ginger-root1.jpg

All found June 23, 2010

-Missouri botanical garden. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=A25-Usda plant profile. (2010, May 19). Retrieved from http://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=PAQU

All found on June 23, 2010