Baoji American Ginseng

Baoji American Ginseng

　　Also known as American ginseng, xi yang shen, or American ginseng. Belongs to the Araliaceae family, Panax genus. A perennial herbaceous plant. The whole plant is hairless. The rhizome is shorter than that of ginseng, and the root is fleshy, spindle-shaped, with few branched forms. The stem is cylindrical, about 25 cm long, with longitudinal stripes or slightly angled. Palmately compound leaves with 5 leaflets, usually 3–4 in number, arranged in whorls at the top of the stem; the leaflets are membranous, broadly ovate to obovate, with pointed tips, basally cordate, and margins with coarse serrations. The inflorescence stalk extends from the center of the leaf petiole at the top of the stem, slightly longer than or nearly equal to the petiole. Umbel inflorescence, with numerous flowers; sepals are green and bell-shaped; petals are 5 in number, pale greenish-white. The fruit is a drupe, flattened round, paired, bright red when ripe. Flowering period is June to July, fruiting period is July to September.

It is a rare and valuable traditional Chinese medicine known for nourishing yin and promoting body fluids. Trial cultivation began in 1979, with large-scale planting starting in 1985. Current cultivation area is 100,000 square meters, with an annual yield of 15,000 kilograms.