Ginkgo biloba (Maiden-hair Tree)
Plant community:
Native status: Native to southern China. Naturalized to the US.
Mature size (height & width):
Height: 50 -80 ft
Width: 30 - 40 ft
Habitat/ Tolerances:
Tolerant to urban settings
Salt tolerant
Pest resistant
Drought tolerant
Heat tolerant
Intolerant of poor drainage
Eco-indicator:
Hardiness zone: 3-8
Leaf color: Green leaves in the summer which turn yellow in the fall
Flower color / bloom time: Green blooms which come out in April
Response to Climate Change:
A highly resilient species which has survived 3 mass extinctions, the Gingko dates back over 200 million years ago and have retained the same appearance since then. Unlike many Deciduous trees the Ginkgo tends to lose all its trees at once the Gingko Leaf dump. Research has shown that due to changes in average temperature, the tree is budding earlier and losing its leaves over a week later than it used to.
Potential Climate applications:
Researchers are currently studying stomatal numbers on Ginkgos all over the nation and their correlation with change in CO2 concentrations in the area. They are looking at the number of stomata on fossil leaves to reconstruct past climate trends as far back as 200 million years ago. They hope to utilize this data to predict future changes in atmospheric carbon, related to climate change.
Climate adaption rank: 5
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/smithsonian-scientists-use-ginkgo-leaves-study-climate-change-they-need-your-help-180972806/
https://garden.smith.edu/node/2340
https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/ginkgo
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z990