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|genus=Ginkgo
|genus=Ginkgo
|species=biloba
|species=biloba
|common_name=Maidenhair Tree
|common_name=Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree
|habit=tree
|habit=tree
|Min ht box=35
|Min ht metric=ft
|Max ht box=80
|Max ht metric=ft
|height_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
|poisonous=can be toxic
|poisonous=can be toxic
|poison_ref=Wikipedia
|poison_ref=Wikipedia
|lifespan=perennial
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|exposure=sun
|water=moist
|water=moist, moderate
|water_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
|features=deciduous, flowers, fall color
|features=deciduous, flowers, fall color
|flower_season=mid spring, late spring
|flower_season=mid spring, late spring
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|min_zone=4
|usda_ref=Complete Landscaping - ISBN 9780376009272
|max_zone=8.5
|image=Gingko-Blaetter.jpg
|image=Gingko-Blaetter.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
[[File:Radziejowice ginkgo biloba01.jpg|left|thumb|Ginkgo tree in [[autumn]]]]
[[File:Radziejowice ginkgo biloba01.jpg|left|thumb|Ginkgo tree in [[autumn]]]]
Ginkgos are very large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 feet), with some specimens over 50 m (164 feet). The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched; the crown becomes broader as the tree ages. During autumn, the leaves turn a bright yellow, then fall, sometimes within a short space of time (1–15 days). A combination of resistance to disease, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes ginkgos long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old.
Ginkgos are very large trees, normally reaching a height of 20–35 m (66–115 feet), with some specimens over 50 m (164 feet). The tree has an angular crown and long, somewhat erratic branches, and is usually deep rooted and resistant to wind and snow damage. Young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched; the crown becomes broader as the tree ages. During autumn, the leaves turn a bright yellow, then fall, sometimes within a short space of time (1–15 days). A combination of resistance to disease, insect-resistant wood and the ability to form aerial roots and sprouts makes ginkgos long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old.
Ginkgo is a relatively shade-intolerant species that (at least in cultivation) grows best in environments that are well-watered and well-drained. The species shows a preference for disturbed sites; in the "semi-wild" stands at Tian Mu Shan, many specimens are found along stream banks, rocky slopes, and cliff edges. Accordingly, Ginkgo retains a prodigious capacity for vegetative growth. It is capable of sprouting from embedded buds near the base of the trunk (lignotubers, or basal chi chi) in response to disturbances, such as soil erosion. Old individuals are also capable of producing aerial roots (chi chi) on the undersides of large branches in response to disturbances such as crown damage; these roots can lead to successful clonal reproduction upon contacting the soil.
Ginkgo is a relatively shade-intolerant species that (at least in cultivation) grows best in environments that are well-watered and well-drained. The species shows a preference for disturbed sites; in the "semi-wild" stands at Tian Mu Shan, many specimens are found along stream banks, rocky slopes, and cliff edges. Accordingly, Ginkgo retains a prodigious capacity for vegetative growth. It is capable of sprouting from embedded buds near the base of the trunk (lignotubers, or basal chi chi) in response to disturbances, such as soil erosion. Old individuals are also capable of producing aerial roots (chi chi) on the undersides of large branches in response to disturbances such as crown damage; these roots can lead to successful clonal reproduction upon contacting the soil.
[[File:GinkgoLeaves.jpg|left|thumb|Ginkgo leaves in [[autumn]]]]
[[File:GinkgoLeaves.jpg|left|thumb|Ginkgo leaves in [[autumn]]]]
The [[leaf|leaves]] are unique among seed plants, being fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaf blade, sometimes bifurcating (splitting) but never [[anastomosis|anastomosing]] to form a network.<ref name="More on Morphology">[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/seedplants/ginkgoales/ginkgomm.html Ginkgoales: More on Morphology]</ref> Two veins enter the leaf blade at the base and fork repeatedly in two; this is known as dichotomous venation. The leaves are usually 5–10 cm (2-4 inches), but sometimes up to 15 cm (6 inches) long. The old popular name "Maidenhair tree" is because the leaves resemble some of the pinnae of the [[Maidenhair fern]] ''Adiantum capillus-veneris''.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are unique among seed plants, being fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaf blade, sometimes bifurcating (splitting) but never [[anastomosis|anastomosing]] to form a network.<ref name="More on Morphology">[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/seedplants/ginkgoales/ginkgomm.html Ginkgoales: More on Morphology]</ref> Two veins enter the leaf blade at the base and fork repeatedly in two; this is known as dichotomous venation. The leaves are usually 5–10 cm (2-4 inches), but sometimes up to 15 cm (6 inches) long. The old popular name "Maidenhair tree" is because the leaves resemble some of the pinnae of the [[Maidenhair fern]] ''Adiantum capillus-veneris''.
Leaves of long shoots are usually notched or lobed, but only from the outer surface, between the veins. They are borne both on the more rapidly-growing branch tips, where they are alternate and spaced out, and also on the short, stubby spur shoots, where they are clustered at the tips.
Leaves of long shoots are usually notched or lobed, but only from the outer surface, between the veins. They are borne both on the more rapidly-growing branch tips, where they are alternate and spaced out, and also on the short, stubby spur shoots, where they are clustered at the tips.
