Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo

The Ginkgo is a long-lived deciduous conifer and gymnosperm. It is frequently termed a "living fossil," as it is the only surviving member of a group of ancient plants with fossils dating back to 270 million years ago. This plant is dioecious, and the so-called fruits (which are actually naked seeds with a soft seed coat) are borne on female trees, are green or tan-orange, and have an offensive odor when ripe and decaying. Fruits litter the ground or pavement below. Use plants propagated asexually from known male parents. It takes 20 years to fruit. The seeds and leaves have been used medicinally and in tea around the world for many years. Young plants tend toward sparse branching, but this improves with age, becoming picturesque, with open branches.