In the previous paper, studies of the "Ren-shen-ye" (Ginseng Folium) derived from Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER were reported. This paper describes anatomical studies of five varieties of Panax pseudo-ginseng WALL., namely, var. japonicus HOO et TSENG, var. angustifolius LI, var. elegantior Hoo et TSENG, var. bipinnatifidus LI and var. notoginseng HOO et TSENG, and the commercial "Ren-shen-ye" derived from some of these varieties. The results show that i) these five varieties can be distinguished from one another by the differences in the number and diameter of the vessels in the petioles, the relative thickness of the upper projection of the petiolules, the presence of palisade tissue, and they can also be differentiated from P. ginseng in the relative thickness of the upper and lower projections of the midrib; ii) P. pseudo-ginseng var. japonicus obtained from China, Japan and Nepal can be distinguished from one another by the presence of fibrous bundle sheath in the petiolule, or by its shape; iii) the commercial "Ren-shen-ye" produced in Shaanxi is derived from the leaf and stem of P. pseudoginseng var. japonicus (P. pseudo-ginseng var. major LI), while the "Ren-shen-ye" from Shanghai market is from the leaf and stem of P. pseudo-ginseng var. elegantior. Anatomical characters, useful for the identification of Panax species in China, Japan and Nepal are provided
