Ginkgo Biloba

The ginkgo biloba tree has been referred to as a “living fossil.” This is because it is the only living member of the Ginkgoales family. Its earliest fossils date back to 270 million years ago, which puts this tree on earth with the dinosaurs. The ginkgo biloba tree was prominent throughout North America, Europe, and Asia during the Cretaceous period (144 million years ago.)

Global cataclysmic events caused a decrease in the number of Ginkgo and the extinction of dinosaurs and large reptiles, who helped disperse the seeds, may have also contributed to this decline. The Ginkgo disappeared from the North American fossil record approximately 7 million years ago and from Europe about 2.5 million years ago.

Ginkgo is old. Really old. It comes from the time of the dinosaurs, and has unique features unlike any plant alive today. Botanists consider it a “living fossil.”

At least 150 million years ago ginkgo grew all across the Northern Hemisphere, but was virtually wiped out in a major extinction event following the last ice age. Luckily, a few specimens survived in China. According to legend, Chinese and Tibetan monks recognized the value of this rare tree and began to cultivate it. The reason we have any ginkgo trees today is thanks to their efforts.

Ginkgos are revered throughout Asia where the tree has come to symbolize longevity and enlightenment. The world’s oldest specimens grow outside temples and monasteries in China. A large ginkgo growing in Shanxi Province is believed to have been planted by Taoism founder, Lao Zi. Another tree found outside Di Lin temple in Shangdong Province is estimated to be more than 3,000 years old.