Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is a species of deciduous broadleaf non-flowering plants (in the Ginkgoaceae family), native to China. The tree is easily recognized by its distinctive fan-shaped leaves, which turn a brilliant golden yellow in autumn before falling within a few days.

Ginkgo biloba is often described as a "living fossil" because trees like the present species have existed for 170 million years, and it is the sole surviving member of an ancient group of plants. It is endangered in the wild but commonly cultivated and widely planted worldwide in urban environments, being ornamental, tolerant of air pollution and disease-resistant. Gingko biloba can grow to 30 metres and the largest living trees are estimated to exceed 3,500 years old.

The wood of Ginkgo biloba is lightweight, resilient, and suitable for furniture, carved and turned objects. Its seeds have culinary uses. Various parts of the plant have a long history in traditional and contemporary herbal medicine, but with very little scientific evidence of health benefits.

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