Ginkgo biloba

The ginkgo is a very old tree.

It has leaves shaped like fans. These leaves turn bright yellow in the fall.

Some trees live for a very long time. One tree lived for over 3,500 years! The tree is very strong. It can grow in many places. It even survives in big cities. This tree is a special part of our world.

The ginkgo is a very special tree. It is often called a living fossil.

This is because its relatives lived long ago. Some fossils look like ginkgo leaves from 170 million years ago. Today, the ginkgo is the only living member of its group.

Ginkgo trees have unique leaves. They are shaped like fans. The veins in the leaves split in two. This is called dichotomous venation. In the fall, the leaves turn a bright saffron yellow.

Then, the leaves fall from the tree.

These trees can live for a very long time. Some trees may live over 3,500 years! They are very tough. They can grow in cities with much pollution. Some trees even survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

Female trees make seeds. These seeds have a fleshy outer layer. This layer smells like rancid butter. Small animals like squirrels eat them. This helps the seeds spread to new places.

The ginkgo tree is a truly remarkable living thing. It is often called a living fossil by scientists.

This is because it is the last living species in its entire group, the Ginkgoales. Other members of this group first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils that look just like the ginkgo lived during the Middle Jurassic epoch.

These fossils date back about 170 million years. Today, the ginkgo is a unique survivor from a very ancient time.

These trees have a very special way of growing and living. They have unique, fan-shaped leaves with a pattern called dichotomous venation. This means the veins split into two over and over again.

The tree grows using two different types of shoots. Long shoots help the tree grow taller and thicker. Short shoots are knobby and help the tree make new leaves in old parts of the crown. In the autumn, the leaves turn a bright saffron yellow before they fall.

People have known about the ginkgo for a very long time. It was cultivated early in human history in East Asia.

In the 1600s, a man named Engelbert Kaempfer was the first Westerner to study it. He wrote down a name that had a spelling error. This error led to the name "ginkgo" being used for hundreds of years. Later, in 1771, Carl Linnaeus gave it a formal scientific name. He used the Latin words for "twice-lobed" to describe the leaves.

There are many amazing facts about how these trees survive. Some ginkgo trees are incredibly old. Some have lived for more than 1,600 years. The largest ones might even be over 3,500 years old! They are very tough and can live in polluted cities. Some trees even survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.

Female trees produce seeds that look like apricots. These seeds have a fleshy layer that smells like rancid butter.

Today, you can find ginkgo trees all over the world. They are often planted in cities because they look beautiful.

People also use the wood for making crafts or sake. In some parts of Asia, the seeds are even used in cooking. Some people take products made from the leaves to help their brains.

Even though they are ancient, these trees are still a big part of our modern world.

The *Ginkgo biloba* is a remarkable species of gymnosperm tree.

It is native to East Asia and is widely considered a "living fossil." This title is earned because it is the sole surviving member of the order Ginkgoales. This entire group of plants first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils of the genus *Ginkgo* have been found dating back to the Middle Jurassic epoch, roughly 170 million years ago.

Because it has changed so little over such vast time, it provides a unique link to the deep past.

These trees possess a highly specialized growth structure involving two types of shoots. Long shoots are the primary branches that allow the tree to grow in length and height. From the axils of the leaves on these long shoots, "spur shoots" or short shoots develop.

These short shoots are knobby and have very short internodes, which are the spaces between leaves. Because of this, the leaves appear to be clustered at the tips. Short shoots are essential because they allow the tree to form new leaves and reproductive structures in older parts of the crown. Over time, a short shoot may even transform into a long shoot, or vice versa.

The leaves of the ginkgo are unique among seed plants due to their shape and vein pattern. They are fan-shaped and exhibit a process called dichotomous venation. This means the veins enter the leaf base and fork repeatedly into two branches.

These leaves are also heterophyllous, meaning there are two distinct types. Leaves on long shoots are thicker and have higher rates of photosynthesis and vein density. In contrast, leaves on short shoots are better adapted to handle drought. During autumn, the foliage turns a striking saffron yellow before falling, often within a period of one to fifteen days.

Reproduction in *Ginkgo biloba* is dioecious, meaning individual trees are either male or female. Male plants produce small pollen cones containing microsporangia. Female plants do not produce cones but instead develop two ovules on a stalk.

Pollination occurs via the wind. The sperm are motile and possess a complex structure with thousands of flagella that move in a cilia-like motion to pull the sperm forward. This method of fertilization is similar to that seen in cycads and ferns. Once fertilized, the ovules develop into structures that resemble fruit. These "fruits" consist of a fleshy outer layer called the sarcotesta and a hard inner shell known as the sclerotesta.

While the sarcotesta smells foul, like rancid butter, it attracts mammals like the gray squirrel and raccoon dog, which help disperse the seeds.

History has played a major role in how we name and understand this tree. The scientific name "Ginkgo" actually stems from a centuries-old transcription error. In 1690, the Westerner Engelbert Kaempfer recorded the Japanese pronunciation as "ginkgo."

This spelling was later adopted by Carl Linnaeus, who formally described the species in 1771. Linnaeus chose the specific epithet *biloba* from the Latin words for "twice-lobed," referring to the leaf shape. The tree has been cultivated since early human history and remains a common sight in urban environments today.

The resilience of the ginkgo is perhaps its most impressive trait. Some specimens have demonstrated extreme longevity, with some measured over 1,600 years and the largest estimated to exceed 3,500 years. They are highly resistant to disease, insects, wind, and snow. This toughness allows them to thrive in disturbed environments and polluted cities. Some trees have even survived extreme events, such as the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. Recent studies on trees up to 667 years old in China suggest they show little evidence of biological aging, continuing to grow and produce chemicals indefinitely.

Today, the ginkgo is connected to many different human interests. Its durable wood is used in crafts and for making sake. The seeds are a popular part of Asian cuisine, though they can pose health risks like poisoning from ginkgotoxin.

Many products are marketed for cognitive benefits, though clinical research shows limited effectiveness for most uses, except possibly for dementia. From a biological standpoint, the ginkgo's massive genome—containing 10.6 billion DNA letters—helps it maintain powerful antibacterial and chemical defense mechanisms. This makes the ginkgo not just a relic of the past, but a highly sophisticated survivor in the modern world.