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Photographer: Dennis W. Woodland
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Family Araliaceae
Panax quinquefolius L.
American ginseng, ginseng
Panax: Greek for "all remedy" referring to ancient Chinese belief that the plant was a panacea
quinquefolius: Latin for "five-leaved"
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| Status: | Special Concern |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 8"-24" tall forb; stems solitary; roots long, branching like a human torso |
| Flower: | white to green, 5-parted; inflorescence a solitary, round umbel from the leaf axils; blooms July |
| Fruit: | red, berry-like |
| Leaf: | single whorl of 3, palmately-divided into usually 5 stalked, toothed leaflet turning yellow in the fall |
| Habitat: | shade; woods; in rich soil |
| (Glossary) |
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