Description

Panax vietnamensis or Vietnamese ginseng (Vietnamese: Sâm Ngọc Linh) is a species of the ginseng genus Panax. P. vietnamensis is a perennial plant, growing from 40 centimetres to 1 metre tall. In Vietnam, P. vietnamensis is found primarily in the Mount Ngọc Linh area of Kon Tum and Quảng Nam provinces, from which its local name is derived. Its habitat is areas under jungle leaf canopy or near running water, at altitudes above 1,200 meters (4,000 ft). The species is also reported from the central and southern provinces of China. Vietnamese ginseng is rich in triterpenoid saponins and has a variety of pharmacological activities.