ARALIACE^E. 



343 



insertion. Flowers small, in a 

 globose umbel, supported on a 

 central, erect peduncle ; this is 

 at first short, but gradually be- 

 comes elongate. The umbel is 

 furnished with an involucrum of 

 numerous, small, subulate leaves. 

 The calyx is 5-toothed, persistent. 

 The corolla consists of five, white, 

 fugacious petals. The stamens 

 are also five, with round anthers. 

 The ovary is ovate, and supports 

 two recurved styles. The fruit is 

 red, baccate, reniform, with two 

 semi-globose seeds. Sometimes 

 there is only one style and a di- 

 midiate berry, or three styles and 

 a trilobate fruit. Nor is it un- 

 common to find abortive or barren 

 flowers. 



The Ginseng occurs in 

 most parts of the temperate 

 portions of the United States ; 

 but is most common to the 

 westward, being almost eradi- 

 cated in the Atlantic States. 

 It is usually found at the roots 

 of trees, in rich soil, especial- 

 ly in hilly situations. From 

 some trials that have been 

 made, it has not been found 

 to succeed well, when at- 

 tempted to be cultivated. 



The Ginseng has attained 

 much celebrity, from the as- p. qu inquefoiium. 



tonishing virtues attributed to 



it in China, where it is considered in the light of a panacea in all diseases. 

 Notwithstanding the large quantities of this root sent from this country 

 to China, and their being recognised as the true Ginseng, and that most 

 botanists have declared that the plants are identical, it is now admitted, 

 by some of the best authorities, that they are distinct species, though very 

 closely allied. Nees v. Esenbeck calls the Asiatic species P. Schinseng, 

 and admits three varieties, one of which is the P. pseudo- ginseng of Wal- 

 lich (Plant. Asiat. rarior.) The mistake originally arose from the Jesuits, 

 some of whom becoming acquainted with the plant in Tartary, thought that 

 they recognised it in the American species, and, in consequence, it was sent 

 to China, where, although considered as an inferior kind, it met with a ready 

 sale. But the market has fluctuated very much, as, from a fancied deteri- 

 oration in the article, or from other causes, it sometimes has not paid freight 

 and charges. 



The Asiatic kind is found principally in Chinese Tartary, between 39 c 

 and 47° N. latitude, in the same kind of localities as in this country. The 

 collection of it is a monopoly enjoyed by the Emperor, who guards the dis- 

 tricts in which it grows with great vigilance. Those who are employed to 

 collect it, each deliver two catties of the best roots gratuitously, and are paid 



