GINKGO {GINK-go} Linnaeus 1771 *
Maidenhair Tree * [Chinese yin, silver, and hing, apricot, in reference to the appearance of the seed which has an outer fleshy coat and a hard silver-colored inner coat.]
The leaves, which are used for medicinal purposes, resemble a fan, similar in shape to the Maidenhair Fern, hence the name,
Maidenhair Tree. Extracts of Ginkgo biloba have been used therapeutically for centuries.
Gingko biloba, also known as the
Maidenhair tree has been found to be good for the circulation.
Ginkgo biloba or
maidenhair tree has fossil evidence dating back to the Mesozoic era or approximately 250 million years ago.
'They are extinct in their natural habitats but are alive in cultivation, such as species tulips (Tulipa sprengeri) and orchids and the Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha), and endangered species such as the
Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba).' Bulbs under threat include cyclamens, snowdrops and sternbergias listed by CITES, the convention governing the trade of endangered species.
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Maidenhair tree, or ginkgo, offers an outstanding golden-yellow color, but is short in duration.
THE
maidenhair tree is a sole survivor of an ancient family that lived when dinosaurs roamed.
One of the most ancient species on the planet, the
Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba), found in 200 million year old fossil records is even less space demanding, the fan-shaped leaves turning bright gold in autumn.
Sometimes known as the
maidenhair tree, as its fan-shaped foliage looks similar to the maidenhair fern, it is also referred to as the fossil tree as ancient leaves have been found dating back 270 million years, placing it in the age of the dinosaurs.