On Patrol of the Lighter Side: Ginseng vs Woodbine AKA Virginia Creeper

I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. (J.R.R.Tolkien, The Two Towers)

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Ginseng vs Woodbine AKA Virginia Creeper

When I first started looking for ginseng I had a lot of trouble telling it from Virginia Creeper. The thing that helped me the most was the size of the leaves. Ginseng has 3 large and 2 smaller leaves whereas VC has 5 all the same size. Also ginseng leaves are fattest at the tip while VC leaves are fat in the middle. The serrations on ginseng leaves are much smaller than on VC.

The stem on a ginseng plant is smooth and fleshly all the way to the ground while VC stems are partly woody closer to the ground.

The area in the next photo contains between 50 to 75 ginseng plants. It's what the old timers call a patch of ginseng and was guarded back when almost as vigorously as a present day marijauna patch.