#3682 - Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo
Another unusual plant from the Botanical Gardens.
The Ginkgo is the last living species in its entire Division, although its relatives have been around since at least the early Permian, 290 million years ago. By the time western botanists became aware of it, it was thought to be extinct in the wild, but was cultivated for the unique and attractive foliage, timber, and longevity - some trees live well over 1500 years. Six survived being with 2km of Ground Zero at Hiroshima.
Unfortunately they also have highly allergenic pollen, various toxins, and the apricot-like fruit smells like vomit. Cultivated trees are generally male, to at least avoid the smell if not the allergies, but it doesn't always work since the tree will sometimes sprout a branch of the other sex.
The actual name of the plant is also a problem - when German naturalist, physician, explorer, and writer Engelbert Kaempfer (1651 – 1716) first encountered the tree in Japanese temple gardens during his tour of Russia, Persia, India, Southeast Asia, and Japan between 1683 and 1693, he recorded the name as Ginkgo. He probably meant Ginkio. And Ginkio/Ginkyo is itself a misreading of the Japanese ぎんなん (ginnan), based on 銀杏 ( yínguǒ - Silver Fruit) found in Chinese herbology literature.
Despite the toxins, the seeds are eaten, the wood is used for furniture, carving, and sake barrels, and various unsupported medical claims are made for the plant.
The fungus Bartheletia paradoxa grows only on fallen Ginkgo leaves.
Christchurch Botanical Gardens, NZ.
