American ginseng

Panax quinquefolius is a herbaceous perennial plant. Its aromatic root resembles a small parsnip that forks as it matures. The plant grows tall, usually bearing three compound leaves (sometimes called "prongs"), each with three to five leaflets, long. Panax quinquefolius is sometimes confused with wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis), another member of the ivy family (Araliaceae). The two species may be distinguished by their leaves. Panax quinquefolius has palmately compound leaves (with leaflets radiating from a single point) while Aralia nudicaulis has pinnately compound leaves (with leaflets arranged on either side of a central stalk). Phytochemistry Like Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng contains dammarane-type ginsenosides, or saponins, as phytochemicals. ==Taxonomy==

for Panax quinquefolius, illustrated by Joseph-François Lafitau in 1718 in 1747 Panax quinquefolius was described as Aureliana canadensis by the French ethnologist and naturalist Joseph-François Lafitau in 1718. As a Jesuit missionary in New France, Lafitau discovered ginseng near Montreal in 1716. In his search for a specimen, Father Lafitau enlisted the help of the Iroquois by showing them a published botanical illustration of gin-seng, Aureliana canadensis is an invalid name since it was published prior to 1 May 1753 (Art.13.1 ICN 2018). The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus validly described Panax quinquefolium in 1753, but the name was later corrected to Panax quinquefolius. The specific epithet quinquefolius means "five-leaved", which refers to the typical number of leaflets per leaf. Etymology The name ginseng ultimately derives from the Chinese herbalism term, rénshēn. Other Chinese names are huaqishen () or xiyangshen (). The genus name "Panax" is derived from the Greek 'Panakos' (panacea), in reference to the supposed benefits attributed to the herb. The specific epithet "quinquefolius" means five-leaved. ==Distribution and habitat==

Panax quinquefolius is native to the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is found primarily in the Appalachian and Ozark mountains of the United States where it prefers full shade environments in deciduous hardwood forests. It is introduced and cultivated in the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, and Liaoning. ==Ecology==

Panax quinquefolius is a summer flowering plant. In New England, flower buds and leaves emerge simultaneously around the middle of June, with flowers eventually appearing in July. Fruits mature to a deep red color by early September. The seeds exhibit a type of dormancy called morphophysiological dormancy, sometimes called "double dormancy", which requires two full winters to completely break dormancy. Germination finally takes place eighteen months after the fruit initially ripened. ==Exploitation and conservation==

Ginseng was discovered by the French Jesuit, Joseph-François Lafitau, near Montreal in 1716. Between 2000 and 2020, U.S. exports of wild ginseng dropped to approximately 250,000 kilograms per decade. CITES Appendix II includes species that, although currently not threatened with global extinction, may become so without trade controls. , nineteen (19) states and one tribe are authorized to export American ginseng from the United States. Status As determined by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, the conservation status of Panax quinquefolius is Endangered (E) in Canada. In Ontario and Quebec, it is listed as Endangered and Threatened, respectively. Both provincial designations refer to a species facing imminent extinction or extirpation. Consequently, the harvesting, possession, and export of wild American Ginseng in Canada is prohibited. , the NatureServe conservation status of Panax quinquefolius is globally vulnerable (G3G4). It is vulnerable (S3) in 14 states; imperiled (S2) in 8 states and provinces; critically imperiled (S1) in 6 states; and possibly extirpated (SH) in the District of Columbia. In addition to (or in lieu of) the NatureServe conservation status (in parentheses below), some states designate their own conservation status: • Connecticut (S2): Special Concern • Delaware (S2) • Georgia (S3) • Illinois (S3?) • Indiana (S3) • Iowa (S3) • Kansas (S1) • Kentucky (S3) • Louisiana (S1) • Maine (S3): Endangered • Maryland (S2S3) • Massachusetts (S3): Special Concern • Michigan (S2S3): Threatened • Minnesota (S3): Special Concern • Mississippi (S3) • Nebraska (S1): Threatened • New Hampshire (S2): Threatened • New Jersey (S2): S1 • New York (S4): Exploitably Vulnerable • North Carolina (S3S4): Rare but Relatively Secure; Exploited • Oklahoma (S1) • Pennsylvania (S4): Pennsylvania Vulnerable • Rhode Island (S1): State Endangered • South Dakota (S1) • Tennessee (S3S4): Special Concern; Commercially Exploited • Vermont (S3): High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need • Virginia (S3S4): Threatened • West Virginia (S3S4) Panax quinquefolius is apparently secure (S4) in New York and Pennsylvania (as shown above), as well as Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Threats American ginseng was formerly particularly widespread in the Appalachian and Ozark regions (and adjacent forested regions such as Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario). Due to its popularity and unique habitat requirements, the wild plant has been overharvested, as well as lost through destruction of its habitat, and is thus rare in most parts of the United States and Canada. Ginseng is also negatively affected by deer browsing, urbanization, and habitat fragmentation. Today the greatest threat to American ginseng is irresponsible digging of its wild roots for export. ==Cultivation==

As wild populations of American ginseng began to decline in the late 19th century, a market developed for cultivated ginseng. In 1887, the tinsmith George Stanton planted ginseng in the forest around Apulia Station, a hamlet in the town of Fabius in Onondaga County, New York. American ginseng is grown commercially under artificial shade. Under these conditions, a crop is harvested three to five years after seeding. Ginseng is also grown under forest-based, wild-simulated conditions, which require 6–10 years (or more) before harvest. Based solely on yield, forest farming may be 1/10 as productive as commercial cultivation. Some states encourage the planting of ginseng both to restore natural habitats and to remove pressure from remaining wild populations. American ginseng is woods-cultivated in Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. ==Toxicity==

Individuals requiring anticoagulant therapy, such as warfarin, should avoid use of ginseng. ==Folk medicine==

American ginseng was of minor importance in Native American folk medicine. There is no good evidence that American ginseng is effective for preventing or treating influenza or the common cold. ==History==

Historically, the plant was used by Indigenous peoples of North America, including the Mohawk and Iroquois. Alongside fur, it represents the oldest trade between East Asia and North America. A key figure in this trade was the ethnologist Joseph-François Lafitau, who played a pivotal role in establishing the global market for Panax quinquefolius in the early 18th century. ==Culture==

In the local vernacular, American ginseng has been variously known as "cheng", "chang", "sang", or "shang". In the southeastern United States, wild-harvesting of American ginseng may be called "sang hunting". ==Gallery==

File:Americanginseng.jpg|American ginseng in human figure. File:MonkGinsengGarden.jpg|Under wooden shade, American ginseng in late fall at Monk Garden in Wisconsin File:American-ginseng-with-fruit.jpg|A picture of the American ginseng plant with fruit. File:Marathonginsengberry.jpg|American ginseng berries are ripe by late fall in Wisconsin. File:Drawn image of fruit and leaf.jpg|A drawn image of the fruit and leaf of the American ginseng plant. File:Drawn image.png|A drawn image of the American ginseng plants leaves. File:American Ginseng 3.jpg|American wild ginseng root (Panax quinquefolius). Old roots, ranging from 40 to 60 growth scars. ==See also==