TOPIC: Genes or Something else

Let me know if this has already been discussed.

I have been collecting wild roots for years for my seed bed. Now I have about 50 large plants and never noticed until recently the variation of green in the leaves. Since they are all growing in basically the same conditions, it looks like I have various strains showing different characteristics. Some have very dark green leaves like army green, while others are light shaded like a basil plant. I have read a few threads mentioning early strains with fast developing seed pods, but mine all develop about the same each year. Does anyone know the extent of genetic variation present in Appalachian ginseng? And how if possible to identify different strains?

On another note I have one plant that every year produces an extra 3 to 4 leaves (not prongs) around the seed pod. About 1.5 to 2 inches in length. Other plants have a few small leaflets around the pod but they are very small. Is this normal?

Here's some pics

Good topic Matt. I think you may be right on genetics, but I think there could be other factors, such as soil and light. I have one spot with some darn nice wild root. I've dug some decent sized root there up to 40 years old. The strange thing is that the plants are tiny and rarely much size for berry pods! Maybe, 10\" tall. Just 2-300 yards away there are some seng w/ normal sized plants for around here. Not sure why exactly, but I suspect it could be genetics, soil and/or light. The soil has a lot of shale in it, sucks for digging! Some of these were from that spot. Normal sized root.

These are the plants, They could be younger ones or older, I don't remember, but they don't get much bigger than this in this spot.

Normal ones...

Matt, to post pics you have to size them to around 700 x 500.

Welcome to the forum Matt0325!

First pic of darker color plant

Pic of lighter colored plants

Seed pod with extra leaflets