Wenshan Pseudo-ginseng/Sanqi

San Qi (Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen ex C. H. Chow)

San Qi, also known as Panax notoginseng, is a perennial herb in the Araliaceae family. Its main root is spindle-shaped, the stem is hairless, and the leaflets are long oval, inversely ovate, or inversely ovate-long oval. The umbel inflorescence is solitary at the stem tip, hairless or sparsely covered with soft hairs. The flowers are pale yellow-green, with stamens and petals being of equal length. The fruit is flattened-spherical and kidney-shaped, turning bright red when ripe. The flowering period is from July to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October. It is named “San Qi” because it is harvested three to seven years after sowing, and each plant produces three leaf stalks, with each stalk having seven leaflets.

San Qi is native to China, primarily found in Yunnan and Guangxi, and is mainly cultivated. It thrives in warm, slightly shady, and moist environments. Ideal cultivation conditions include well-drained and irrigated soil, loose and rich in organic matter, preferably neutral to slightly acidic sandy loam. The use of this plant should avoid continuous cropping. San Qi can be propagated by seeds, direct seeding, or seedling transplantation.

According to the Qing Dynasty’s Zhao Xue-min’s “Compendium of Materia Medica Supplement,” ginseng is known for its energy-boosting properties, and San Qi is renowned for its blood-tonifying effects, with similar taste and functions, hence being called “Ginseng San Qi,” one of the most precious Chinese herbs. San Qi has a warm nature with a sweet and slightly bitter taste. It is associated with the liver and stomach meridians and is known for its blood-tonifying, anti-inflammatory, and blood-stasis-dissolving effects. It has antioxidant properties, slows aging, dilates blood vessels, reduces coronary artery resistance, increases coronary blood flow, enhances coronary microcirculation, and improves nutrient blood flow to the heart. Additionally, it lowers arterial pressure, slightly reduces heart rate, and significantly reduces myocardial oxygen consumption.

Morphological Characteristics

San Qi is a perennial, upright herb, 20-60 cm tall. The main root is fleshy, spindle-shaped, and can be single or multiple. The stem is dark green, turning purple towards the tip, smooth, hairless, and has longitudinal coarse stripes.

The plant has 3-6 whorls of palmate compound leaves at the stem tip. The stipules are numerous, clustered, linear, and less than 2 mm long. The petiole is 5-11.5 cm long, striped, and smooth. The central leaflets are 1.2-3.5 cm long, while the lateral leaflets are 0.2-1.2 cm long, both hairless. The leaf blades are membranous, with the central leaf being the largest, long oval to inversely ovate-long oval, 7-13 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, with a gradually tapering apex and a wide wedge to round base. The lateral leaflets are smaller, elliptical to round-oval, 3.5-7 cm long and 1.3-3 cm wide, with a gradually tapering apex, oblique base, and edges with fine serrations, short sharp teeth, and stiff hairs along the veins.

The umbel inflorescence, located at the stem tip, has 80-100 or more flowers. The total peduncle is 7-25 cm long, striped, and hairless or sparsely covered with short soft hairs. The involucral bracts are numerous, clustered at the base of the peduncle, and ovate-lanceolate. The flower stalks are slender, 1-2 cm long, slightly covered with short soft hairs. The small bracts are numerous, narrow-lanceolate or linear. The flowers are small and pale yellow-green. The calyx is cup-shaped, slightly flattened, with 5 small triangular teeth at the edge. The petals are 5, lanceolate, hairless. There are 5 stamens, with filaments equal in length to the petals. The ovary is inferior, with 2 chambers, 2 style branches slightly curved inward, fused at the base, and the stigma bends outward when fruiting. The fruit is flattened-spherical and kidney-shaped, approximately 1 cm in diameter, turning bright red when ripe, with 2 seeds inside. The seeds are white, triangular-oval, and slightly three-angled. The flowering period is from July to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Habitat and Distribution

San Qi is distributed in the southeastern part of Yunnan Province (Yanshan, Xichou, Wenshan) and is found at altitudes of 1,200-1,800 meters. It is also cultivated in the southwest of Guangxi. [1]

Growth Habits

San Qi prefers warm, shaded, and moist environments. It is sensitive to extreme cold and heat, and it does not tolerate excessive water. The soil should be loose, red or brown-red, slightly acidic; the ideal annual average temperature is between 16.0-19.3°C. Prolonged temperatures above 30°C for 3-5 days can make the plants susceptible to disease. It is best to choose east-facing slopes with a gradient of 5°-15° for cultivation. Planting in low-lying areas can lead to root rot.

Cultivation Techniques

  1. Site Selection
    • San Qi is often grown in cultivation. The best land is sunny slopes. Sandy black soil is ideal, followed by gray soil, and then red soil. Clay soils are not suitable. Site selection is crucial for the success of growing San Qi. It is recommended to choose slopes at altitudes of 700-1,500 meters with an east-facing orientation and a gradient of 10-20 degrees. Low mountainous areas or hilly plains above 400 meters can have severe pest and disease problems, and leaves often fall early. It is proven that shady and well-ventilated slopes, preferably with shading from high mountains on the west, are the best. [2]
  2. Shelter Construction
    • Two methods for building shelters: one uses wooden columns and beams to construct a canopy with a height of 5.5-6 feet, made from wooden or bamboo strips. The other method uses a wooden column and iron wire structure, replacing beams with iron wires, with a spacing of about 8 feet between columns. Approximately 120-130 wooden columns are needed per acre. The shelter primarily regulates light and temperature. Adjustments are made according to different seasons and temperatures. In spring, with a small angle of sunlight and weak light, a light cover with 65%-75% light transmittance is sufficient. As light and temperature increase, the cover is gradually made denser. For northern slopes with less direct light, a lighter cover is suitable, while southern slopes with stronger light require a denser cover. [2]
  3. Bed Preparation
    • Beds should generally be prepared along the slope for better drainage and field operations. The bed width is 1.8-2 feet, height 5-6 inches, and length can be adjusted according to the terrain. The width of the channels between beds is 1 foot, and the bed surface is shaped like a fish’s back. After preparing the beds, apply 30-50 quintals of base fertilizer per acre, consisting of 70% cow manure and 30% plant ash. If available, add about 30 pounds of phosphate fertilizer (superphosphate or bone meal). The base fertilizer must be well-rotted and evenly mixed with the soil. [2]
  4. Seed Selection and Sowing
    • Select mature and full seeds from 3-4-year-old San Qi plants. Sow seeds in late autumn (October-November) immediately after harvesting. Cover the seeds with a layer of fire soil mixed with fertilizer, then cover with grass to promote germination. Use a point-sowing method with a row and plant spacing of 3×2 inches or 3×3 inches, with 280,000-320,000 seeds per acre. Cover with 4-8 mm of soil and press lightly, then add a layer of rice straw (cut into 2-3 inch segments and disinfected with lime sulfur) to prevent weed growth, moisture evaporation, and rain damage. The cover thickness should be 0.3-0.5 inches, covering about 80% of the bed surface. [2]
  5. Transplanting
    • San Qi seedlings, after one year of growth in the seedbed (referred to as “seed strips”), must be transplanted. The new site should be prepared similarly to the seedbed, ideally during heavy snowfall or winter solstice. Dig up the “seed strips” from the seedbed, trim off the stems and leaves (referred to as “stumps”), place them in holes, apply a pinch of mixed fertilizer, and cover with soil to a depth of about 1 inch. Space the holes 7×6 inches or 8×6 inches apart, with a hole depth of 1-1.5 inches. Plant seedlings at a 20-30 degree angle to the bottom of the hole, covering with soil without exposing the buds. Cover with an additional 0.3-0.5 inches of crushed straw to conceal the soil. [2]
  6. Adjusting Shelter
    • The light transmittance of the shelter is closely related to the growth and development of San Qi. Insufficient light transmittance can lead to weak plants, increased disease and pest problems, and fewer flowers and fruits. Excessive light transmittance can cause yellowing of leaves and early withering. Generally, in spring, the light transmittance should be 60%-70%, in summer slightly lower at 45%-50%, and after the autumn equinox, it can be gradually increased to 50%-60% as temperatures cool. [2]
  7. Weed Control and Fertilization
    • Weeds must be removed whenever they appear, regardless of whether the field is one year old or older. Fertilization should be done at least 4-5 times a year, or up to 7-8 times, approximately every 1-2 months. The first application should be around 150 pounds of plant ash and 500 pounds of grass ash when the seedlings reach 70%. The second application, around April, should be 200 pounds of mixed fertilizer per acre (30 pounds of bone meal, 50 pounds of superphosphate, applied after fermentation). The third application should be 200 pounds of mixed fertilizer in May. The fourth application, in July, should be green manure (chopped and fermented green manure evenly spread over the bed surface). [2]
  8. Winter Care
    • This involves removing remaining leaves, thinning fences (adjusting light transmittance to 70%-80%), and a comprehensive disinfection (using 0.2-0.3% lime sulfur solution to disinfect the shelter, ground, and fences) to adjust the temperature and humidity inside the shelter and reduce overwintering pests and diseases. After disinfection, apply 1,000-2,000 pounds of mixed fertilizer to the bed surface. [2]

Pest and Disease Control

  • Rust Disease: Spray with 0.2% lime sulfur solution or 1,000-fold dilution of Funginex.
  • Anthracnose: Spray with 1:1:200 Bordeaux mixture or 800-1,000-fold dilution of Mancozeb.
  • Powdery Mildew: Spray with 0.1-0.2% lime sulfur solution or 1,000-fold dilution of 50% Carbendazim.
  • Blight: Before disease onset, spray with 1:1:200 Bordeaux mixture or 1,000-fold dilution of 50% Carbendazim.

Other issues include damping-off disease, black spot disease, short-legged mites, peach aphids, bees, and rodent damage.

San Qi, or Panax notoginseng, is a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Its roots and fleshy rhizomes are highly prized for their therapeutic properties, including:

  • 止血 (Hemostatic): Helps to stop bleeding.
  • 破血散瘀 (Blood-activating and stasis-resolving): Aids in breaking up blood stasis and promoting blood circulation.
  • 消炎定痛 (Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving): Reduces inflammation and alleviates pain.
  • 滋补 (Nourishing): Provides general tonification and strengthens the body.

It is commonly used to treat trauma and injuries. Additionally, the flowers and leaves of San Qi have a cooling effect and are used to clear heat.

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Synonyms:

  • Panax pseudo-ginseng var. notoginseng (Burkill) Hoo et Tseng
  • Aralia quinquefolia var. notoginseng Burkill
  • Panax pseudoginseng Wall. Li
  • Panax pseudoginseng var. notoginseng (Burkill) C. Ho et C. J. Tseng
  • Panax japonicus var. bipinnatifidus (Seem.) C.Y. Wu & Feng

Common Names:

  • 大叶三七 (Big-leaf San Qi)
  • 参三七 (Ginseng San Qi)
  • 滇三七 (Yunnan San Qi)
  • 旱三七 (Dry San Qi)
  • 假人参 (False Ginseng)
  • 金不换 (Gold Cannot Be Exchanged, also known as Panlong Qi)
  • 人参三七 (Ginseng San Qi)
  • 山漆田七 (Mountain Lacquer Field Seven)
  • 野三七 (Wild San Qi)
  • 竹节人参 (Bamboo Joint Ginseng)
  • 汉三七 (Han San Qi)
  • 人参田七 (Ginseng Tian Qi)
  • 田漆田七 (Field Lacquer Tian Qi)

Conservation Status

San Qi is listed as “Extinct in the Wild (EX)” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This status indicates that the plant is no longer found in its natural habitat and may only exist in cultivation or under human care.