Note 20 — Chapter XI · Tree-, Herb-, and Stone-lore

“As described by Father Jartoux”, says the eighteenth-century English writer, already quoted,20 “it has a white root, somewhat knotty, about half as thick as one’s little finger; and as it frequently parts into two branches, not unlike the forked parts of a man, it is said from thence to have obtained the name of ginseng, which implies a resemblance of the human form, though indeed it has no more of such a likeness than is usual among other roots. From the root arises a perfectly smooth and roundish stem, of a pretty deep-red colour, except towards the surface of the ground, where it is somewhat whiter. At the top of the stem is a sort of joint or knot, formed by the shooting out of four branches, sometimes more, sometimes less, which spread as from a centre. The colour of the branches underneath is green, with a whitish mixture, and the upper part is of a deep red like the stem.… Each branch has five leaves,” and the leaves “make a circular figure nearly parallel to the surface of the earth”. The berries are of “a beautiful red colour”.