Herbs, perennial, with stout rootstock, hermaphroditic or perhaps andromonoecious, unarmed. Stem simple, with scales at base. Leaves palmately compound, in whorls of 3-5; leaflets entire to serrate or dentate or pinnately lobed. Inflorescence a solitary, terminal umbel. Pedicels articulate below bisexual flowers, inarticulate below male flowers. Calyx shortly 5-toothed. Petals 5, imbricate. Stamens 5. Ovary 2- or 3(-5)-carpellate; styles distinct or basally united, as many as carpels. Fruit a drupe, globose, sometimes slightly compressed or triangular. Seeds laterally compressed, as many as carpels; endosperm smooth.

We were unable to treat Panax wangianus S. C. Sun (Icon. Pl. Omei. 2(1): 194. 1946 ["wangianum"]; P. pseudoginseng Wallich var. wangianus (S. C. Sun) G. Hoo & C. J. Tseng), described from Sichuan, because we were unable to consult the type material.

About eight species: E Asia, Himalayan region, Indochina, North America; seven species (one introduced) in China.