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Ginkgo biloba
Kingdom: Plantae / Division: Ginkgophyta / Class: Ginkgoopsida /
Order: Ginkgoales / Family: Ginkgoaceae / Species: Ginkgo biloba
Common Names--ginkgo, ginkgo biloba, fossil tree, maidenhair
tree, Japanese silver apricot, baiguo, bai guo ye, kew tree,
yinhsing. Often misspelled as ginko.
Ginkgo is derived from the Japanese word ginkyo, meaning "silver
apricot", referring to the fruit, which is eaten in Japan.
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Ginkgo |
Figure 2. Fan-shaped Ginkgo Leaves
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Ginkgo leaves are unique among seed plants,
being fan-shaped with veins radiating out into the leaves blade,
splitting into the familiar "river delta" form, but never
forming a network as in other veined leaves. Two veins enter the
leaf blade at the base and fork repeatedly in two; this is known
as dichotomous venation. These leaves are about 2 1/2 inches
wide.
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CHINESE : 白果 Bai guo,
银杏 Yin xing, 銀杏
(Taiwan).
Ginkgo in different cultures and languages
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* Ginkgo is derived from the Japanese word ginkyo, meaning
"silver apricot", referring to the fruit, which is eaten in
Japan.
* Biloba translates as "two-lobed", referring to the
split-in-the-middle character of its fan-shaped leaf blades.
*
Once thought to be extinct, Ginkgo was discovered in China in
the mid-1700s and is now dispersed throughout the world, having
lived on Earth for over 150 million years.
Ginkgo biloba is apparently a remedy for antidepressant-induced
sexual dysfunction. Read about a government study that shows
a positive effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on all four phases of
the human sexual response cycle. |
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Height: 50-80' Spread: 30-40' Habit/Form: Pyramidal to wide
spreading Growth Rate: Slow Zone: 4-8
Cultural Requirements: Full sun in a moist, well-drained, deep
sandy soil but will grow in heavy clay soil as long as it is
well drained. Displays good heat, salt, and air pollution
tolerance.
Ornamental Characteristics: A deciduous conifer with distinctive
fan-shaped leaves that turn a spectacular golden yellow and then
drop all at once creating a carpet of gold at the base. Select
male cultivars only. Female trees produce a fleshy fruit that
emits an undesirable odor.
Uses in the Landscape: Excellent shade or street tree. |
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Ginkgo in winter reveals the distinctive,
unmistakeable silhouette of this tree's oddball bud
growth.
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3. During summer the leaves are a deep
green, turning to brilliant yellow in the fall. Gingko trees are
among the most urban-tolerant trees on earth. They suffer few
diseases, have very few insect predators, and are usually deep
rooted and resistant to wind & snow damage. The Ginkgo is
usually associated with a Mediterranean-type climate; it is
perhaps noteworthy that these trees now flourish in what used to
be an extremely harsh climate in the wintertime: Northern
Illinois and the suburbs of Chicago. |
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Ginkgo Tree Bark with Lichens and Moss |
Ginkgos are long-lived deciduous trees that may
reach 50 meters (approx 170 ft.) They are usually deep rooted,
and young trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely
branched; the crown becomes broader as the tree ages. A
combination of disease resistance, insect-resistant wood and the
ability to form aerial roots and sprouts allows many Ginkgos to
achieve great age; some specimens in China are thought to be
2,500 - 3,000 years old.
This tree has developed a greenish coat of lichens and moss on
its bark. These are non-parasitic organisms and do not injure
the plant. Lichens can be controlled to a certain extent by
improving air circulation by pruning out overcrowded branches,
and cutting back overhanging vegetation. There are no approved
chemicals for treating lichens and moss on trees. |
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The Ginkgos date back to the Permian period,
about 270 million years ago. These fossil leaves date to the
Jurassic, and were found in England.
- Cultivars are selected for non-fruiting character (male
trees); thereafter, for better fall color and/or modified
growth habit
- Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold' - more dependable
golden-yellow fall color, with a broadly pyramidal growth
habit at maturity; male, with more compact form, maturing at
about 50' tall by 30' wide
- Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry' - nearly
columnar form, being slightly wider at the base, used
architecturally for a vertical accent; male, about 70' tall
by 10' wide
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Culinary use
The nut-like gametophytes inside the seeds are esteemed in and
outside of Asia, and are a traditional Chinese food. Called yín
xìng ("silver almond") or bái gu ("white fruit"), Ginkgo nuts
are used in congee, and are often served at special occasions
such as weddings and the Chinese New Year (as part of the
vegetarian dish called Buddha's delight). In Chinese culture,
they are believed to have health benefits; some also consider
them to have aphrodisiac qualities. Japanese cooks add Ginkgo
seeds to dishes such as chawanmushi, and cooked seeds are often
eaten along with other dishes. The seeds are available canned,
sold as "White Nuts", and can be found in many Asian food stores
in the West. Usually only a few are added for a portion enough
for ten people.
Medical and Herbal uses
The extract of the Ginkgo leaves contains flavonoid glycosides
and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalides) and has been used
pharmaceutically. It has many alleged nootropic* properties, and
is mainly used as memory enhancer and anti-vertigo agent.
However, studies differ about its efficacy.
Out of the many conflicting research results, there seem to be
basically three effects of Ginkgo extract on the human body: it
improves blood flow (including microcirculation in small
capillaries) to most tissues and organs; it protects against
oxidative cell damage from free radicals (antioxidant); and it
blocks many of the effects of PAF (platelet aggregation, blood
clotting) that have been related to the development of a number
of cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and CNS (Central Nervous
System) disorders. Ginkgo can be used for intermittent
claudication.
A 2004 conference paper summarizes how various trials indicate
that Ginkgo shows promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's
disease, although further study is needed. Ginkgo is commonly
added to energy drinks, but the amount is typically so low it
does not produce a noticeable effect, except perhaps via a
placebo effect from Ginkgo being listed on the label. |
Side effects
Ginkgo may have some undesirable effects, especially for
individuals with blood circulation disorders and those taking
anti-coagulants such as aspirin and warfarin, although recent
studies have found that ginkgo has little or no effect on the
anticoagulant properties warfarin. Ginkgo should also not be
used by people who are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOI) or by pregnant women without first consulting a doctor.
Ginkgo side effects and cautions include: possible increased
risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and restlessness. Ginkgo
supplements are usually taken in the range of 40 - 200 mg per
day.
-- From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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*Nootropics are low toxicity "smart drugs"
that supposedly boost brain activity and memory without
affecting the nervous system .
Some pharmaceuticals are called 'smart drugs' because of their
ability to enhance the brain's function. Some smart drugs aren't
a drug at all, they’re nutrients. A more accurate description of
chemicals that can boost brain performance is Nootropics (from
the Greek, meaning 'acting on the mind'). Nootropic is a
term coined by one Dr. Giurgea to describe the first substance
found to have beneficial effects in the treatment of memory
loss, age related memory decline and lack of concentration. That
substance was Piracetam (branded Nootropil). Not only was it a
beneficial treatment, it was also found to have only negligible
side effects.
One of the primary differences between Nootropics and other
‘memory enhancers’ is that Nootropics have a beneficial effect
upon the brain's Corpus Callosum. This area of the brain joins
the two hemispheres, it links the logical side of the brain with
the creative side of the brain, allowing the user to draw on
greater brain potential.
References:
1. USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov,
22 December 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton
Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
2.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program.
Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN)
[Online Database]
3.
Porcher
Michel H. et al.
1995 - 2020, Sorting Ginkgo Names |
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Ginkgo biloba Morton Arboretum accession 67-U*8
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