The Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), frequently misspelled as "Gingko", and sometimes known as the Maidenhair Tree, is a unique tree with no close living relatives. It is classified in its own division, the Ginkgophyta, comprising the single class Ginkgoopsida, order Ginkgoales, family Ginkgoaceae, genus Ginkgo and just the one species. It is one of the best known examples of a living fossil. In the past it has also been placed in the divisions Spermatophyta or Pinophyta. Ginkgo is a gymnosperm (as opposed to an angiosperm), meaning "naked seed"; its seeds are not protected by an ovary wall and hence, the berry-like structures produced by female ginkgo trees are technically not fruit.
For centuries it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but is now known to grow wild in at least two small areas in Zhejiang province in eastern China, in the Tian Mu Shan Reserve. However, as this area has known human activity for over a thousand years, the wild status of ginkgos there is as yet uncertain.

Ginkgo - the Maidenhair Tree - A plant watcher's notes from the edge of the Kanto Plain, Japan, with photographs and links.
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Ginkgo biloba - Description of the tree that is the lone living surivor of its family.
Ginkgo biloba - Personal site with images and information about morphology, history, reproduction, ornamental use, and medicinal use. In French and English.
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Ginkgo biloba - Description and images from Virginia Tech.
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Ginkgo biloba - Description and images of this species, commonly known as Maidenhair Tree or Ginkgo.
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Ginkgo from the New Ornamentals Society - Descriptions, literature, and history of new and rare Ginkgo biloba cultivars.
The Ginkgo Pages - Comprehensive information about Ginkgo biloba. In English, German, French, and Dutch.
Meta Description: [ All about Ginkgo biloba. Awarded homepage in English,Deutsch,Français,Español,Nederlands. ]
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