Ginseng? Guatemala Rhubarb Is The Local Ginseng Variety?
My friend told me that she has a lot of ginseng plant at home. If my memory serves me right, the plant was brought by her auntie from Korea. Her mother managed to get some and planted it to their small garden.
I asked fro ginseng seedling and she gave me one. I potted it in small clay pot. I water it everyday, weed it, and apply some organic fertilizers. Then the ginseng flowered three times before I successfully got seeds. I sowed the small seed in small milk can. Sooner or later, the seed is going to germinate. I can’t wait to see how it looks.
This is ginseng. I spent an hour googling but I was not able to see exact picture match. I want to know more about this ginseng variety. My wife told me that she once saw this plant. It can grow as tall as human. But she never knew other details. I hope someone can help me.
—————– update as of june 14, 2011
I finally found the real name of this plant. Thanks to my younger sister. She saw it accidentally in botany book.
The real plant name is Guatemala rhubarb with the botanical name of Jatropha podagrica. Common names are gout stick, gout plant, coral plant and physic nut. It belongs to family Euphorbhiaceae.
The leaves with oil is use as warm compress to releive stomach pain.
The root in rhum is used locally as cure-all medicine and aphrodisiac.
It is known as the local ginseng variety.
Seeds are toxic. Ingestion will cause abdominal pain, burning throat sensation, vomiting and diarrhea. Might lead to death according to some reports. The stout stem produces clear sap that cause dermatitis on contact.
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update as of june 28, 2011
I said earlier that seeds are toxic. I am wondering how the ants are able to eat the seeds without experiencing any harm.
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actually i also have this kind of ginseng… correct me if im wrong as per my research….it is a Tracheophyte: Angiosperm: Dicot: Ginseng (Araliaceae)
But still searching more data about this ginseng…
can you share more about this plant…
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marvin Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@blue – thanks for the information!
The plant have red flower and bear fruit with 2 to 3 seeds. Flowering is in continuous manner. Another set of flower will come out when the fruit of old flower is set. I managed to grow two plants from seeds but was unable to repeat it. I have never seen the root structure yet. I will never uproot any of them unless I have more than ten plants.
This ginseng loves direct sunlight.
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one of my friend sent me details about ginseng, try to anylize the data given below…
When to harvest ginseng
During the first year of growth under natural conditions, the above-ground portion of ginseng has three leaflets (like a strawberry). The second year it usually has five leaflets, and in subsequent years two, three, or four prongs with three to five leaflets in each prong. This progressive development of prongs is not necessarily annual; rather, the plant often remains in the two-prong stage for several years and even longer in the three-prong and four-prong stages. Harvesting may occur before plants reach the four-prong stage. Flowers usually develop during the two-pronged stage and a limited number of fruit may mature. By the time the three-prong plants form, you can expect a full complement of 20-40 fruit.
The majority of plants grown to simulate the wild condition will not reach a desired root size and maturity until 9-10 years after planting. However, you can remove flowers annually from two- and three-prong plants in increase root size and decrease harvest time by a year or so.
If flowers are not removed, annual seed crops are possible after four or five years. Seedlings can also be sold should thinning prove necessary during the first few years.
IT SEEMS WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR LONG TIME BEFORE IT REACHES THE PROPER SIZE OF THE ROOTS :<
Also as per my research… it could be better if the ginseng plant was placed on a large container… like what we are doing now. Are you familiar to drum container? Cut it into at least half size, and we put at least 3 plants in able to have space for roots.
for the berries as far as i know, we can sell it… they used the seeds as a powder granules mixed.
[Reply]
marvin Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@blue- ouch! I have to wait that long! I have not seen yet most of the details you mentioned. Hope I see them after several years. I will transfer my pant to wider container. Many thanks!
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My pleasure…
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its not a true ginseng
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marvin Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 11:25 pm
please tell me what is the true name of this plant!
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I think this is what they call ‘Buddha Belly Plant’.
And, as a matter of fact, we have this kind of plant here at home.
Hope this helps on your query.
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marvin Reply:
July 12th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Thanks for your response! I still have one question though. Do you have any use for this plant?
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is it hamful for human to take this ginseng?
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marvin Reply:
August 19th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
It belongs to the family of jatropha with poisonous fruit, like tuba tuba. The fruit of this plant is also toxic. It is not safe to take this!
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i have a lot of friends told me that this plant is good,i mean a kind of ginseng also,,,,,…and actually am planning 2 make its root into a liquor but am quiet confused now when i read your comment here guys…
pls, post more info that you know about this plant guyz… that wud rili help me a lot;;;tnxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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