Ginkgo

Ginkgo is a genus of non-flowering tree. Only one species, Ginkgo biloba, remains alive today.

Description
Ginkgos have fan-shaped leaves, unique among seed plants. G. biloba grows 20 to 35 meters in height.

Classification
Recent analysis shows that ginkgos are most closely related to cycads. However, they are still in different class levels.

History
Recognizable ginkgos first appeared in the Permian period,about 270 million years ago. Several different species evolved, and they thrived throughout the Mesozoic era. By the end of the Pliocene, however, only one species remained, surviving in China. The species is now commonly cultivated, and is used in food and as medicine.