The ''Panax'' ( ginseng)

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

belongs to the ''

Araliaceae The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 43 genera and around 1500 species consisting of primarily woody plants and some herbaceous plants. The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely, but it is predominantly distinguisha ...

'' (ivy)

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and east North American distribution. Furthermore, this disjunct distribution is asymmetric as only two of the ~18 species in genus are native to North America.

Etymology

The name ''Panax'', meaning "all-healing" in Greek, shares the same origin as "

panacea In Greek mythology, Panacea (Greek ''Πανάκεια'', Panakeia), a goddess of universal remedy, was the daughter of Asclepius and Epione. Panacea and her four sisters each performed a facet of Apollo's art: * Panacea (the goddess of universal ...

" and was used for this genus because

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...

was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine.

''Panax'' species

Genus ''Panax'' :Subgenus ''Panax'' ::Section ''Panax'' :::Series ''Notoginseng'' ::::'' Panax notoginseng'' (Burkill) F.H.Chen (known as ''san qi'', ''tian qi'' or ''tien chi'') :::Series ''Panax'' ::::''

Panax assamicus The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' (Assam Ginseng) ::::''

Panax bipinnatifidus The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' Seem. :::::var. ''angustifolius'' (Burkill) J.Wen ::::'' Panax ginseng'' C.A.Mey. (Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, Asiatic ginseng, Oriental ginseng) ::::''

Panax japonicus The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' (T.Nees) C.A.Mey. (

Japanese ginseng Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

) ::::'' Panax quinquefolius'' L. ( American ginseng) ::::''

Panax sokpayensis The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' Shiva K.Sharma & Pandit ::::'' Panax vietnamensis'' Ha & Grushv. ::::''

Panax wangianus The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' S.C.Sun ::::''

Panax zingiberensis ''Panax zingiberensis'' is a species of plant in the family Araliaceae. It is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; o ...

'' C.Y.Wu & Feng ::Section ''Pseudoginseng'' ::::''

Panax pseudoginseng ''Panax pseudoginseng'' is a species of the genus ''Panax''. Common names include Pseudoginseng, Nepal ginseng and Himalayan ginseng. Pseudoginseng belongs to the same scientific genus as ginseng. In Latin, the word ''panax'' means "cure-all", ...

'' Wall. ::::''

Panax stipuleanatus The ''Panax'' (ginseng) genus belongs to the ''Araliaceae'' (ivy) family. ''Panax'' species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. ''Panax'' is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and ...

'' H.T.Tsai & K.M.Feng :Subgenus ''Trifolius'' ::::''

Panax trifolius ''Panax trifolius'', commonly called dwarf ginseng, is plant native to the Northeastern and Appalachian regions of North America. It is found in low mesic woods with acidic soils. It produces an umbel of white flowers in late spring. This spe ...

'' L. Hybrids: * ''Panax ginseng'' × ''Panax quinquifolius'' * ''Panax japonicus'' f. ''typicum'' × ''Panax quinquifolius''

References

External links

Apiales genera Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine {{Araliaceae-stub