A slow-growing East Asian and North American forest herb with branched fleshy roots used for thousands of years in traditional medicine as a tonic.
Description
Ginseng has a slim stem topped with whorls of compound leaves and small green flowers that develop into red berries. The valuable part is the fleshy root, often forked in a humanoid shape.
Cultivation
True ginseng grows wild in cool deciduous forests and is also cultivated under shade. Roots take five to ten years to reach harvest, contributing to ginsengs high price.
Uses
Korean and Chinese medicine value ginseng for energy, immunity, and longevity. American ginseng is a smaller relative wild-harvested in the Appalachian forests for export.
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