Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Is it Ginseng Root, Tree Root, or what?

Written by

Madison

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in

Do you know what kind of roots these are?

The other day I got an email asking for some identification help.

From the photos, I do not believe it’s ginseng, but I can’t tell what it is. Some of them look like iris, bloodroot and goldenseal and maybe a tree root thrown in.

However, the reader wonders if perhaps the ginseng looks different in PA than it does in AR.

Since I’ve never personally seen ginseng from PA, she wanted to ask the community. I agreed. I hope some of you out there will help us out.

So, dear blog readers and ginseng enthusiasts… and especially those in Pennsylvania –

Is this ginseng? If not, do you recognize what it is?

Is it ginseng? Photo 1 of mystery roots.
Is it ginseng? (Both photos copyright 2015 L.A.)
Is it ginseng? Photo 2 of mystery roots.
Is it ginseng? Photo 2 of mystery roots.

 

 

 

Comments

8 responses to “Is it Ginseng Root, Tree Root, or what?”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    It’s not ginseng or a tree root. It is a different plant, but I don’t know the name of it. I wouldn’t eat it.

    Reply
  2. Harley Kemble Womack Avatar
    Harley Kemble Womack

    I’m not sure I have found ginseng…..is there anyway I can send pictures of the plant & you tell me? Please?

    Reply
    1. Madison Avatar
      Madison

      You can send a pic to madison@wildozark.com. But season doesn’t open until Sept. 1, just so you know. Don’t dig any yet.

  3. Madison Avatar
    Madison

    I dug up some cohosh and solomon’s seal since this post and it to me looks mostly like solomon’s seal. Whatever it is, definitely not ginseng. The person who sent the photo to me just wanted some second or third opinions and I’m always happy to do that sort of thing for folks 🙂 Thanks for your input too!

    Reply
  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Most of it looks like small black cohosh and others I don’t think any of that is ginseng

    Reply
  5. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Looks like Polygonum (Solomon Seal) & Sanguinaria (Bloodroot) mostly.

    Reply
    1. Madison Avatar
      Madison

      Thanks, Sara. Do any of them look like ginseng to you? I had forgotten about Solomon’s seal and the circular scars when I first saw the photos, but after looking at some others online they do look like the one she’s holding in the top pic.

  6. Madison Avatar
    Madison

    From Trevor Mills, buyer in MO/AR: “Looks more like Solomon’s seal root than ginseng. All the big round flat spots and pointy ends on the roots.”

    Reply

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