Ginkgoales

Live reconstruction of Cretophasmomima melanogramma - journal.pone.0091290.g007

Ginkgo biloba leaf 01

Ginkgo biloba 01 SR 87-36-02 A

Ginkgo biloba MacAbee BC

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Ginkgo huttoni

Ginkgoales is an order of seed plants that includes a single living species, Ginkgo biloba, which is commonly referred to as the ginkgo or maidenhair tree. This unique plant has no close living relatives, and its lineage dates back over 270 million years, making it a living fossil and a subject of extensive research in botany and plant evolution. The Ginkgoales were more diverse and widespread during the Mesozoic era, with numerous species documented in the fossil record.

Description

The ginkgo is a large tree, capable of reaching heights of up to 35 meters (115 feet), and is characterized by its fan-shaped leaves, which turn a bright yellow in the autumn. It is dioecious, meaning that individual trees are either male or female. The female trees produce seeds that are encased in a fleshy covering, which, when ripe, emits an unpleasant odor. Despite this, ginkgo seeds, also known as ginkgo nuts, are edible and considered a delicacy in some Asian cuisines.

Habitat and Cultivation

Originally, ginkgo trees were believed to be extinct in the wild and only known to survive in cultivation in China, where they have been grown for thousands of years, both for their ornamental value and for their edible seeds. However, small populations have since been found in remote areas of China, suggesting that the tree is not entirely extinct in the wild. Today, ginkgo trees are cultivated worldwide in temperate climates as ornamental trees in parks and gardens.

Uses

Beyond its ornamental and culinary uses, Ginkgo biloba has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is now a popular herbal supplement worldwide. It is claimed to have various health benefits, including improving memory and cognitive function, although scientific evidence supporting these claims is mixed.

Conservation

The conservation status of Ginkgo biloba is complex. While it is widely cultivated and not at risk of extinction, its limited wild populations are of significant conservation interest. Efforts are being made to protect these areas and to understand more about the natural ecology of the species.

Evolutionary Significance

The Ginkgoales are of immense interest to scientists studying plant evolution and the history of life on Earth. The ginkgo's long evolutionary history and its status as the sole survivor of an ancient group of plants make it a key species for understanding the evolution of seed plants.

See Also

• Fossil
• Living fossil
• Seed plant
• Dioecious