Dear Sir
CULTIVATION
The two major ginsengs in trade are Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Oriental ginseng), and Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng). There are several minor Oriental ginseng species but not of economic significance. The deciduous aerial stem of ginseng has 3 leaflets in seedlings, 5 leaflets per leaf in mature plants with leaf number correlating with age of the plant. Ginseng plants start to flower in the second year. the flowers of Oriental ginseng as small, 2-3 mm across; sepals 5, green; petals 5, cream yellow, ovate, apex obtuse; stamens 5, filaments, short; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 2 locular; styles 2, united at base; disk cup-shaped. A typical flowering 4-year old American ginseng plant may carry 30-40 berries in an umbel inflorescence with an average of two cream white seeds, 5-6 mm long and 4-5 mm wide, in each berry.
The ginseng plant has a fleshy taproot which often has two to five laterals and is light yellowish white in color. Dry matter content of the root is about 30%.
Ginseng is cultivated under artificial shade or simulated forest conditions to meet its requirements of about 30% of full Artificial shade growing is the more common cultivation method worldwide.
Kirti
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