quinquefolium

Quinquefolium is the Latin epithet meaning five-leaved, and it appears in botanical names to indicate plants with five leaflets. In taxonomic usage it is best known as Panax quinquefolium, the species commonly called American ginseng. The epithet may also occur in other plant names where the leaflets total five.

Panax quinquefolium L. is a perennial herb in the Araliaceae family. It grows to about 30–60 cm tall, with leaves that are palmately compound and typically have five glossy leaflets. The plant produces small, pale flowers in terminal umbels, and the fruit is a red berry when mature. The root is a thick, spindle-shaped rhizome and is the principal source of medicinal material in traditional use.

Native to eastern North America, American ginseng favors shaded, moist deciduous forests. Its range includes parts of Canada and the United States, from the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic coast and extending south into the central Appalachians. Habitat disturbance and overharvesting have affected native populations in some areas.

Historically, Panax quinquefolium has been used in Native American and East Asian traditional medicine for perceived tonic and stamina-supporting effects. In modern markets it is sold as a dietary supplement or herbal remedy; however, evidence for consistent clinical efficacy is inconclusive, and product quality can vary.

Conservation concerns accompany its harvest, leading to regulatory measures and increased cultivation. Shade-grown cultivation and sustainable harvesting practices are used to reduce pressure on wild populations while supplying the market.