Abstract:

                                                                               Abstract

     1.  It was observed that somatic chromosome numbers of four species of the genus

Panax L. are as follows: Panax japonicus 2n=24, P. notoginseng 2n=24, P. ginseng

2n=44 and P. quinquefolius 2n=48.  The somatic chromosome numbers of P. japonicus

from Lushan and Jinggangshan (Jiangxi Province, China) is different from that of

Japanese population (2n=48).  The chromosome numbers (2n=24) of P. notoginseng is

first reported.

     2.  The P. japonicus, one of the diploid species, which has the widest geographical

distribution is perhaps the more primitive type among the living species of Panax.

While, the P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, the tetraploid species, are more advanced

types than the diploid species.  The conclusion from cytotaxonomy is thus different

from that of chemical taxonomy.

      3.  The cytological analysis together with the geographic distribution of this four

species shows that the Southwestern China is the modern distribution center, also the

most variational center, and perhaps the center of origin for the genus Panax L.