This book provides information on the eight species of the plant family Araliaceae known from the Russian Far East: Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz., Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem., Aralia cordata Thunb., Aralia continentalis Kitag., Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (Rupr. et Maxim.) S. Y. Hu, Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim., and Oplopanax elatus (Nakai) Nakai. The first chapter is an introduction to the family as a whole, whereas subsequent chapters provide more specific information on the systematics, geographic distribution, biological attributes, chemical composition, and medicinal properties of each species. Chapter 6, devoted specifically to ginseng (Panax ginseng), contains unique information on the history of its discovery, the present day state of wild populations, its introduction as a medicinal, and its modern utilization. Chapter 10 addresses the biologically active substances present in Araliaceae and Chapter 11 discusses issues of conservation. English summaries of all chapters as well as a list of illustrations are provided at the end of the volume.