Living Beings
    Source-identified Ginkgo biloba; Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Framed for display
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    Ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga' Miłorząb dwuklapowy 2021-10-02 04.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Source-identified documentary image; see the original file for method and context. Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Maidenhair Tree

    Ginkgo biloba L., 1771

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    ViridiplantaeGinkgoopsidaGinkgoalesGinkgoaceae

    Ginkgo is a deciduous gymnosperm recognized by fan-shaped leaves and striking yellow autumn color. Its fleshy-coated seeds are not fruits: it belongs to a lineage of seed plants outside the flowering plants.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomViridiplantae
    4. PhylumStreptophyta
    5. ClassGinkgoopsida
    6. OrderGinkgoales
    7. FamilyGinkgoaceae
    8. GenusGinkgo
    9. SpeciesGinkgo biloba
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Viridiplantae kingdom
    4. Streptophyta phylum
    5. Streptophytina subphylum
    6. Embryophyta clade
    7. Tracheophyta clade
    8. Euphyllophyta clade
    9. Spermatophyta clade
    10. Acrogymnospermae clade
    11. Ginkgoopsida class
    12. Ginkgoidae subclass
    13. Ginkgoales order
    14. Ginkgoaceae family
    15. Ginkgo genus
    16. Ginkgo biloba species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Structure and identification

    Leaves have branching veins and often a central notch. Long shoots and short shoots produce different-looking clusters of leaves.

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    Habitat and range

    The tree grows best with light and well-drained soil and is widely used in urban plantings.

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    Nutrition and metabolism

    Leaves photosynthesize during the growing season. Deciduous leaf loss changes the annual balance between production and stored reserves.

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    Biological activity

    Leaves change color and fall seasonally. Reproductive structures occur on short shoots.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Pollen-bearing and ovule-bearing trees are separate. Fertilized ovules mature into seeds with a fleshy outer layer.

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    Geographic distribution

    The species originates in China and has been cultivated far beyond its native region. Cultivated occurrence is not evidence of a wild population.

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    Ecological role

    Trees supply shade and structural habitat; the ecological setting of planted trees differs from remnant native stands.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Tolerance of several urban stresses helps explain its widespread use as a street tree.

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    Conservation

    Abundant cultivated trees do not demonstrate security of wild populations. Native-range conservation needs separate evidence.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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