Other common names:
Five-leaved Ginseng Other scientific names: Aralia quinquefolia, Ginseng quinquefolium French names:
Ginseng à cinq folioles Family: Ginseng Family (Araliaceae) Similar species: • Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) - Much smaller overall; white flowers. •
Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) - The leaves look similar and it also grows in the woods. Flowers: Spring; Green/Brown; 5 parts (petals) Leaves: Compound, Toothed Habitat: Forests Lifespan:
Perennial. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 286 Native/Non-native:
Native Status: S-Rank: S3 G-Rank: G4
Very rare due to poaching. This is an endangered species in Ontario, almost poached to extirpation, and cannnot be dug up or otherwise disturbed.
Notes:
If you find Ginseng please do not tell others where it is. Word of its location may spread and it will very likely get poached by people who want to sell it.
Photographs:
201 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Ginseng is a relatively small woodland plant. This one has ripening berries.
Ginseng flowers. They are tiny and green.
Closeup of flowers and flower buds.
Here the flower cluster is largely finished flowering and fruit is developing.
An entire Ginseng plant. Note there are usually five leaflets, except in young plants.
Ripening berries, with a hand for scale.
Photograph by Kim Sayers
Another entire Ginseng plant.
This is a location where poachers have illegally dug up Ginseng plants. As Ginseng is regarded as an effective medicinal plant, it is in high demand.
At this location there were a few very young Ginseng plants scattered around the edge, which had apparently been overlooked by the poachers.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
