James McGraw has written an informative, yet engaging memoir about his career-spanning efforts to study, and ultimately conserve, one of Appalachias most culturally and economically valued plants: American ginseng. But this is not just a book about ginseng; this is simultaneously a passionate recounting of the process of scientific discovery, along withsage suggestions for sustainable use and conservation of the entire Appalachian forest biotreasury in an age of extensive human influence. -- Eric Burkhart, program director, Appalachian Botany and Ethnobotany, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center Management of medicinal plants and forest landscapes is at a critical crossroad, and James McGraws book is an important synthesis of insights from decades of research, diving deep into the ecology and complicated nature of this wild root. This book is for future students, herbalists, consumers, ginseng companies, Appalachian landowners, forest farmers, and the various agencies navigating trade of wild species. There is a linage to our understanding of medicinal plants as teachers especially in regard to forest ecology, and McGraws book is now a critical link in that lineage. Wild American Ginseng synthesizes decades of research, providing solid insight for future management and then sets the stage for questions still to be explored. -- Susan Leopold, executive director, United Plant Savers James McGraw has written a marvelous book about one of the most interesting and perhaps misunderstood plants in all of North America. This in-depth analysis of wild American ginseng is based on more than twenty years of intensive, highly detailed, study of thirty natural populations spread across most of ginsengs native range from New York to West Virginia and as far west as Indiana. Although not intended to be a textbook, the scientific information presented here will surprise even knowledgeable and experienced ginseng lovers. Anyone who is interested in ginsengs biology, ecological and human made threats, with some possible solutions, will find it hard to put this book down from page one. I highly recommend it! -- Robert Layton Beyfuss, Cornell extension * author of The Practical Guide to Growing Ginseng * After having devoted forty-five years of my adult life to working with wild American ginseng, using it personally, and running one of the largest American ginseng farms in Wisconsin, I always wished I had James McGraws expertise to help change the course of human activities, which are driving wild Chinese ginseng to extinction. McGraws research has pointed out the course we humans have to take to preserve this invaluable American national treasure for our childrens children and generations more to come. -- Paul Hsu, founder, Hsus Ginseng Enterprises, Wausau, Wisconsin Wild American Ginseng combines an introduction to plant population biology for the layman along with a discussion of the historical, social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that affect the abundance of all species, but especially wild-harvested medicinal plants like ginseng. -- John Paul Schmidt, professor of ecology, University of Georgia
