There are two main species in the ginseng genus which belong to the Araliacea family of plants. Panax quinquefolius is one species and is commonly referred to as North American, Western, Canadian, Ontario or American ginseng, and Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (after the botanist who named the plant) and is commonly referred to as Asian, Chinese, China White or Korean ginseng. If the ginseng root is boiled and/or steamed, it is referred to as Red ginseng (as opposed to white).   Some other species that belong to the ginseng genus are Panax japonicus (Japanese Ginseng), Panax pseudoginseng (Himalayan ginseng), Panax notoginseng (Sanqui ginseng), Panax trifolius (Dwarf ginseng), and Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng). However, these species are not readily available for commercial trade or have enough clinical studies to support health benefits.   Moreover, while there is scientific data on Ashwagandha or Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera), Brazilian or South American ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata) and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) these do not belong to the ginseng genus and are therefore improperly named.