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Panax trifolius L.

Dwarf ginseng

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderApialesIncludes carrots, celery, parsley, and ivy
FamilyAraliaceaeIvy family
GenusPanaxGinseng—means “panacea” for its curative properties
SpeciestrifoliusLatin for “three leaves”

About plant names...

Dwarf ginseng is native to northeastern North America.

Plants: 4-8″ (10-20 cm) in height, easily missed among forest litter when not in bloom. American ginseng looks somewhat similar, but it is larger, and has clusters of five stalked leaflets instead of three leaflets in dwarf ginseng.

Leaves: In clusters of three, with a larger central leaflet; leaflets are toothed.

Flowers: Blooms are spherical in shape, composed of many minute white or pinkish flowers about 1/16″ (2 mm) around, all emerging from a central point. Blooms appear in May-June. Up close, the blooms are delicate and quite beautiful.

Fruits: Yellowish berry clusters succeed the flowers in July and August.

Medical: Dwarf ginseng root is not used in herbal medicine. See American ginseng.

Online References:

Southeastern Flora, the Southeastern U.S. Plant Identification Resource

The U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

The North Carolina Native Plant Society

Illinois Wildflowers

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

CalPhotos

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Delawarewildflowers.org

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/10/2021 · Gamble and Kennebec Trails, Berry Woods Preserve, Georgetown, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/14/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 11 × 7″ (26 × 17 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/10/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Cons, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/14/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/17/2021 · Bijhouwer Forest, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/4/2012 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

 

Panax trifolius description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/10/2021 · Gamble and Kennebec Trails, Berry Woods Preserve, Georgetown, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/20/2023 · Knight’s Pond Preserve, Cumberland, Maine

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

4/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/10/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Cons, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/4/2012 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/2/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/11/2023 · White Trail, Knight’s Pond Preserve, Cumberland, Maine

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/20/2014 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

4/24/2021 · Green Point, Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Panax trifolius (dwarf ginseng)

5/4/2012 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Range:

About this map...