Description
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a species of flowering plant in the ivy family Araliaceae. It is native to eastern North America and has been introduced into China. The specific epithet quinquefolius means “five-leaved”, which refers to the typical number of leaflets per leaf. It is one of a group of taxa known as “ginseng”.
The conservation status of American ginseng is globally vulnerable. It is imperiled or critically imperiled in 14 states and provinces. In Canada, the species is endangered and facing imminent extinction.