Ginkgo

While most species of tree undergo at least some changes over the course of millions of years, the same cannot be said for the Ginkgo. Arborists refer to ginkgoes as "living fossils" - the same trees have been growing for almost 200 million years. They are originally native to China, but have been in North America since 1784. They are hard to mistake for another tree, with unique fan-shaped leaves (such as the one featured in the logo of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County!).

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ginkgo biloba

HISTORY: The ginkgo has always been a staple of traditional Chinese medicine, a system that is at least 23 centuries old. It was introduced in America (or, rather, re-introduced, as ginkgoes did exist in North America until a climate cooling around 7 million years ago) in 1784 by botanist William Hamilton in Philadelphia. Today, the gingko is the only living representative of the order Ginkgoales from the Permian Period (298.9-251.9 million years ago).

LEAVES: Ginkgo leaves are fan-shaped and leathery, borne on short, spur-like shoots. They can be up to three inches long and are dull gray-green to yellow-green in summer and golden-yellow in autumn.

FRUIT/CONE/NUT/SEEDS: Female ginkgoes produce messy, foul-smelling, apricot-colored seeds with fleshy coverings; for this reason, it is recommended to buy male ginkgoes instead. Ingesting the seeds may be toxic.

FLOWERS: The flowers of the ginkgo tree are inconspicuous.

BARK: The bark is grayish, fissured, and deeply furrowed with a corky texture.

HEIGHT: Ginkgo trees can attain heights of 50-80 feet.

USES: Ginkgoes are currently being researched as a possible treatment for Alzheimer disease, and their extract is believed to have memory-enhancing properties. The leaves have been harvested for blood thinners and circulatory illnesses, as they are said to improve blood flow and protect against oxidative cell damage. The wood is sometimes used to produce chess sets, chopping blocks, and firewood. Chinese and Japanese cooks sometimes used cooked Ginkgo seeds in dishes, especially as a traditional food served at Chinese weddings.

SOURCES:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/ginkgo-tree

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_ginkg.pdf

https://news.virginia.edu/content/tree-see-history-behind-pratt-ginkgo

The Beardsley Avenue District Tree Tour is generously sponsored by Kallimani Tree Services.