Ginkgoes

Ginkgoes have distinct fan-shaped leaves. These trees are extremely resistant to pests as well as pollution, and are capable of growing to a height of over 30 meters. These deciduous trees shed their leaves every year. Ginkgoes are often found in temperate regions, and can live up to 1,000 years. Unfortunately, Ginkgo biloba is the only surviving species of the genus Ginkgo.

Ginkgo first appeared 250 million years ago according to geological records, and flourished from the lower Jurassic period (190 million years ago) to the Cretaceous period. Fossil records also indicate that the ginkgo has remained unchanged for almost 80 million years. Today's ginkgo trees are descendants of the ones planted in the gardens of ancient Buddhist temples in China and Japan. In fact, ginkgo was not known in the west until the early 1700s. Since these trees are extremely resistant to pests and pollution, ginkgoes are often planted in city parks and urban areas.