ginseng

gin·seng   (jĭn'sěng')    (click for larger image in new window) n.   Any of several plants of the genus Panax, especially P. pseudoginseng of eastern Asia or P. quinquefolius of North America, having small greenish flowers grouped in umbels, palmately compound leaves, and forked roots believed to have medicinal properties. The roots of these plants. [Chinese (Mandarin) rén shēn : rén, man + shēn, ginseng (perhaps from the forked shape of the root).]

ginseng 

Main Entry: gin·seng
Pronunciation: 'jin-"se[ng], -"sa[ng], -(")si[ng]
Function: noun
1 : the aromatic root of a ginseng that is highly valuedas a medicine in China though of value chiefly as a demulcent
2 a : a Chinese perennial herb (Panax schinseng of the family Araliaceae, the ginseng family) having5-foliolate leaves, scarlet berries, and an aromatic root valued especially locally as a medicine b : any of several plants (especially genus Panax) related to or used assubstitutes for the Chinese ginseng; especially : a No. American woodland herb (P. quinquefolius)