Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is considered one of the most primitive of trees living today. Commonly referred to as a living fossil Ginkgo is the only tree of the division Ginkgophyta that exists today. It was believed to have gone extinct many years ago but was found growing in a region in China and has since been moved and grown around the globe.

Ginkgo leaves have dichotomous venation - two veins in the leaf stem continually divide to form a fan-shaped leaf. They have separate sexes with cones forming which contain the male microsporangiate and female ovules forming at the tips of the shoots.

It appears in many myths and folklore; Ancient Chinese warriors were believed to sustain themselves off dew from the leaves. Today it is used mainly in Eastern Asia for medicinal purposes as well as in foods made for special occasions such as weddings.

The leaves are green in colour but turn a beautiful yellow during Autumn before dropping off and leaving the tree bare through winter. It is a beautiful tree with an amazing history; we are lucky to have it on the UEA campus!