As aconsequence, the correct name for **Siberian Ginseng’ 
should be Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) 
Maxim. The binomial Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & 
Maxim.) Harms is thus relegated to synonymy. 
The legitimacy of Eleutherococcus senticosus does not 
change, even if Eleutherococcus and Acanthopanax are 
united. When Harms (1898) merged Eleutherococcus with 
Acanthopanax, the name Eleutherococcus should have been 
retained, in accordance with the law of priority. Article 57./ of 
the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Stafleu, 
1978) states: “‘When two or more taxa of the same rank are 
united, the oldest legitimate name or (for taxa below the rank of 
genus) the oldest legitimate epithet is retained . . .”” As such, 
Acanthopanax (Miq.) Harms is illegitimate, and so is A. sen- 
ticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Harms. 
Finally, it is our opinion that only critical studies covering 
the entire taxonomic and geographic ranges of Eleutherococ- 
cus and Acanthopanax will enable one to judge correctly, if 
union of these two taxa is warranted. 
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) 
Maxim., Mém. Présent. Acad. Imper. Sci. 
St.-Pétersb. Ser. 6c, 9: 132. 1859; Nakai, J. 
Arnold Arbor. 5: 10. 1924; Poyarkova in 
Shishkin, Fl. USSR 16: 17. 1973. 
Hedera senticosa Rupr. & Maxim., Bull. Phys.- 
Math. Acad. Imper. Sci. St.-Petersb. 15: 134. 
1857. 
Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) 
Harmsin Engler & Prantl, Naturl. Pflz. Fam. 
3(8): 50. 1898; Li, Sargentia 2: 71. 1942. 
Acanthopanax eleutherococcus Makino, Bot. 
Mag. Tokyo 12: 19. 1898. (Fide Nakai, 1924; 
Li, 1942; Poyarkova, 1973). 
Eleutherococcus koreanus Nakai, Fl. Sylyv. 
Koreana 15:32. 1926. (Fide Nakai, 1924; Li, 
1942: Poyarkova, 1973). 
342 
