N. ORD.—ARALIACEZ:, 70 
GENUS.—ARAL#FAS. 
SEX, SYST._PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. 
-CINGE NG. 
JIN-CHEN. 
SYN.—ARALIA QUINQUEFOLIA, GRAY; A. CANADENSIS, TOURN.; PA- 
NAX QUINQUEFOLIUM, LINN.; P. AMERICANUM, RAF. ; AURELIANA 
CANADENSIS, LAFIT; GINSENG QUINQUEFOLIUM, WOOD; GIN-SENG 
CHINENSIBUS, JARTOUX. 
COM. NAMES.—GINSENG, TARTAR-ROOT, FIVE-FINGER, RED BERRY, 
MAN’S HEALTH; (FR.) GINSENG D’AMERIQUE; (GER.) KRAFTW UR- 
ZEL. 
A TINCTURE OF THE DRY ROOT OF ARALIA QUINQUEFOLIA, GRAY. 
Description.—This herbaceous perennial grows to a height of about 1 foot. 
Root large, sometimes forked, but generally consisting of a fleshy, somewhat fusi- 
form body, from the larger end of which is given off an irregular, cylindrical, knotty 
portion, narrower at its abrupt juncture with the main root, and showing the scars 
of previous stem-growths, Both parts are transversely wrinkled, closely above 
and sparsely below. Stem simple, erect; leaves 3, palmately 5-divided; deaflets 
obovate, thin, serrate, and pointed, in two sets, 3 large and 2 small, all long 
petioled. Inflorescence a single terminal, naked, peduncled umbel ; flowers few, 
diceciously-polygamous. Calyx-limb very short, obscurely 5-toothed ; éee¢h trian- 
gular acute. efals 5, spreading, ovate-oblong. Styles 2 to 3, erect or spreading. 
Stamens 5. Fruit a cluster of bright-red, 2-celled, more or less reniform, fleshy 
berries, each retaining its calyx-limb and styles; exdocarp thin. 
This portion of the genus Aralia is the genus Panax* of Linneus. It has 
many characters, which have given rise to opportunities for forming distinct genera 
from its species, though ‘ts close resemblance to the Aralias serves to hold it there. 
History and Habitat.—The American Ginseng grows in the rich, cool woods 
of central and northern North America, where it flowers in July. 
There is great similarity in the American and Chinese individuals of this 
species, but the place of growth or mode of drying seems to more or less affect 
the properties of the roots, especially if the accounts of the usefulness of the 
Oriental product can be credited. Father Jartoux, who spent much time, and had 
special privileges accorded him in the study of this plant, remarks, that so high is 
it held in esteem by the natives of China that the physicians have written volumes 
upon its virtues, and deem it a necessity in all their best prescriptions, ascribing 
* Mav, pan, all; axos, akos, a remedy; as the Chinese and Tartar species were considered panaceas. 
