Panax quinquefolius (root)

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{{Macroscopy | source=American Medicinal Plants of Commercial Importance (1930)
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| description=Ginseng is an erect plant growing from 8 to 15 inches high and bearing three leaves at the summit, each leaf consisting of five thin, stalked leaflets.  The three upper leaflets are larger than the two lower ones.  From 6 to 20 greenish-yellow flowers are produced in a small cluster during July and August, followed later in the season by bright-crimson berries.  Ginseng has a thick, fleshy, spindle-shaped root 2 to 3 inches or more in length and about one-half to 1 inch in thickness, often branched.  After the second year the root becomes branched or forked.
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{{Macroscopy | source=United States Dispensatory (1918)
 
{{Macroscopy | source=United States Dispensatory (1918)
 
| description=The root is fleshy, somewhat spindle-shaped, from 5 to 12 cm. long, and 1 to 2.5 cm. thick, and terminated by one or more stem scars. Frequently there are two portions, sometimes three or more, connected at their upper extremity, and bearing a supposed, though very remote, resemblance to the human figure, from which circumstance it is said that the Chinese name ginseng originated. When dried, the root is yellowish-white and wrinkled externally, and within consists usually of a hard central portion, surrounded by a soft whitish bark. }}
 
| description=The root is fleshy, somewhat spindle-shaped, from 5 to 12 cm. long, and 1 to 2.5 cm. thick, and terminated by one or more stem scars. Frequently there are two portions, sometimes three or more, connected at their upper extremity, and bearing a supposed, though very remote, resemblance to the human figure, from which circumstance it is said that the Chinese name ginseng originated. When dried, the root is yellowish-white and wrinkled externally, and within consists usually of a hard central portion, surrounded by a soft whitish bark. }}

Latest revision as of 20:55, 16 June 2015

AHPA recognizes other valuable resources exist regarding the identity of Panax quinquefolius.

To submit a suggestion or contribution, please contact Merle Zimmermann.

Contents

Nomenclature

Panax quinquefolius L.   Araliaceae  
Standardized common name (English): American ginseng  
Pinyin name(s): xi yang shen (root)

Botanical Voucher Specimen

bottomright

Panax quinquefolius Tropicos 53111.jpg
Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org[1]

Organoleptic Characteristics

[Panax ginseng (root)] has a feeble odor, and a sweet, slightly aromatic taste, somewhat analogous to that of licorice root.

Source: United States Dispensatory (1918) [2]

Macroscopic Characteristics

Ginseng is an erect plant growing from 8 to 15 inches high and bearing three leaves at the summit, each leaf consisting of five thin, stalked leaflets. The three upper leaflets are larger than the two lower ones. From 6 to 20 greenish-yellow flowers are produced in a small cluster during July and August, followed later in the season by bright-crimson berries. Ginseng has a thick, fleshy, spindle-shaped root 2 to 3 inches or more in length and about one-half to 1 inch in thickness, often branched. After the second year the root becomes branched or forked.

Source: American Medicinal Plants of Commercial Importance (1930) [3]
The root is fleshy, somewhat spindle-shaped, from 5 to 12 cm. long, and 1 to 2.5 cm. thick, and terminated by one or more stem scars. Frequently there are two portions, sometimes three or more, connected at their upper extremity, and bearing a supposed, though very remote, resemblance to the human figure, from which circumstance it is said that the Chinese name ginseng originated. When dried, the root is yellowish-white and wrinkled externally, and within consists usually of a hard central portion, surrounded by a soft whitish bark.

Source: United States Dispensatory (1918) [4]

Microscopic Characteristics

bottomright bottomright

American ginseng.jpg
Rosette of calcium oxalate observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories[5]

American ginseng-1.jpg
Yellow secretion from a resin canal observed at 400x with Acidified Chloral Hydrate Glycerol Solution.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories[6]

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification

Supplementary Information

Sources

  1. ↑ MOBOT, Tropicos.org http://www.tropicos.org/Image/53111
  2. ↑ United States Dispensatory (1918)
  3. ↑ American Medicinal Plants of Commercial Importance (1930)
  4. ↑ United States Dispensatory (1918)
  5. ↑ Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
  6. ↑ Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
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