Acanthopanax*, and analyzing the published original descrip- 
tions of the same, we came to the conclusion that the major 
features that separate the two taxa are as follows: 
Eleutherococcus: Flower pedicels not jointed, 
flowers in solitary umbels, ovary 5-loculed 
and 5-styled (rarely 3-6), fruits globose or 
acute with 5 seeds (rarely 3-6). 
Acanthopanax: Flower pedicels jointed, flowers in 
racemose or paniculate umbels, ovary 
2-loculed and 2-styled (rarely 3-loculed and 
3-styled), fruits flat or compressed, with 2 
(rarely 3) seeds. 
Basically, these are criteria used by Bentham & Hooker f. 
(1867) in maintaining the separation of Eleutherococcus from 
Acanthopanax at the generic level. It is also worthwhile to note 
that Nakai (1924) emphasized the differences that separate 
these two taxa in the number of styles and the number of cells 
(locules) of the ovary, as well as in the shape of the fruits. The 
presence or absence of articulation in the flower pedicels, 
according to Nakai (1924) is not an important character, since 
this phenomenon is seen only in dried specimens, caused by 
the unequal shrinking of the parenchyma cells. 
We feel that the criteria defined above are strong enough to 
separate the two taxa at the generic level. Union of the taxa 
results in a heterogeneous group taxonomically, as Li (1942) 
has admitted. Li further states that this ‘‘genus [Acantho- 
panax, s.l.| is heterogeneous and may ultimately require cer- 
tain segregations’’ (1942: 6). On the basis of the present evi- 
dence, we recognize the genus Eleutherococcus (with about 15 
species) as distinct from Acanthopanax (with about 25 
species). 
‘We are grateful to the following individuals and institutions for the loan of specimens 
of Eleutherococcus and/or Acanthopanax, for examination: Arnold Arboretum, Har- 
vard University, Cambridge, Mass.; Field Museum of Natural History, Botany De- 
partment, Chicago, IIl.; Dr. Tchang Bok Lee, the Kwanak Arboretum, Seoul National 
University, Suwon, South Korea; Professor I.1. Brekhman, Far East Scientific Cen- 
tre of the USSR, Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, U.S.S.R. 
34] 
