Adaptation

Roots, seeds, and stems are used for adaptation. The roots are used to store the nutrients and suck up water and the seeds are used for reproduction. The seeds are in berries to be digested by animals who then spread them out. The stems are short because Ginseng does not grow very well with sunlight. Growing short keeps Ginseng under the protection of the trees it grows near which keep the sunlight away from the plant (19).

Used with permission from Hardings Ginseng Farm

Photo By Eric Burkhart 

It is a stationary plant. Since Ginseng is immobile it uses fungi and bacteria to get the nutrients from the soil and bring it to the plant. This helps the plant sustain its health and supplies the fungi and bacteria nutrients in return (18). Direct sunlight kills Ginseng so it has adapted by growing next to trees that provide enough shade, drop leaves that decay and create mulch, and keep the soil moist (19). Since Ginseng grows next to trees, the tree roots get in the way of the Ginseng roots and the roots curl up as a result (18).

 

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