Gymnosperm of the day: Ginkgo biloba!

Of all gymnosperms, Ginkgo biloba is by far one of my favourites, which is why its the first one I'll post. It got its name through the shape of its leaves, which are two-lobed.

This living fossil is the last remaining species in its order, Ginkgoales, which dates back to around 290 million years ago. The oldest fossils Ginkgo biloba date back to around 170 million years ago. This tree once covered massive areas of Asia, but its wild population has since been reduced to a few isolated populations in China.

Nowadays, the tree is a common sight in many cities around the world. Unfortunately, it can be a common smell too, when female trees are mistakenly planted instead male ones. These female trees produce fleshy nuts with a horrible scent. While somewhat edible, the seeds can when eaten in large quantities may cause poisoning too. Nevertheless, it remains a common ingredient in traditional Chinese food.