Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko ( GINK-oh, -⁠goh), also known as the maidenhair tree, is a species of gymnosperm tree native to East Asia. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils very similar to the living species, belonging to the genus Ginkgo, extend back to the Middle Jurassic epoch approximately 170 million years ago. The tree was cultivated early in human history, remains commonly planted, and is widely regarded as a living fossil. G. biloba is a long-lived, disease-resistant, dioecious tree with unique fan-shaped leaves, capable of clonal reproduction, and known for its striking yellow autumn foliage and resilience in disturbed environments. It was known historically as “silver fruit” or “white fruit” in Chinese and called “ginkgo” due to a centuries-old transcription error. It is closely related to cycads and characterized by unique seeds that resemble apricots but are not true fruits. G. biloba, once widespread but thought extinct in the wild for centuries, is now commonly cultivated in East Asia, with some genetically diverse populations possibly representing rare wild survivors in southwestern China’s mountainous regions. G. biloba has been cultivated for over a millennium across China, Korea, and Japan—often in temples—with some trees surviving extreme events like the Hiroshima atomic bomb and others living up to 1,400 years. Today it is widely planted in cities worldwide for its pollution tolerance and ornamental value. G. biloba can pose health risks including potential carcinogenicity, allergic reactions, poisoning from seeds due to ginkgotoxin, drug interactions, and adverse effects such as bleeding and neurological symptoms, especially with excessive or improper use. G. biloba wood is valued for its durability and used in crafts and sake-making, while its seeds are popular in Asian cuisine despite health risks. While widely marketed for cognitive benefits, clinical research shows limited medical effecti...