Panax | |
---|---|
Panax quinquefolius | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Apiales |
Family: | Araliaceae |
Subfamily: | Aralioideae |
Genus: | Panax L. |
Species | |
See text |
The Panax (ginseng) genus belongs to the Araliaceae[1] (ivy) family. Panax species are characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin. Panax is one of approximately 60 plant genera with a classical disjunct east Asian and east North American distribution.[2] Furthermore, this disjunct distribution is asymmetric as only two of the ~18 species in genus are native to North America.