Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo, is a living fossil with the earliest leaf fossils dating back to 270 million years. Ginkgo biloba is native to China, where it is widely cultivated since ancient times.
Ginkgo biloba is a large deciduous tree, pyramidal in shape, with a trunk up to 30 metres (98 feet) tall and 2.5 metres (8 feet) in diameter at maturity. Younger trees are often tall and slender, and sparsely branched, and the crown becomes broader as the tree ages. The fan-shaped bright green leaves turn golden yellow in autumn and then fall rapidly. Ginkgo biloba makes a beautiful shade tree and is growing slowly. Ginkgo biloba is a relatively shade-intolerant species that grows best in environments that are well-watered and well drained. Ginkgo biloba is usually deep rooted and resistant to wind, diseases and insects, which makes it long-lived, with some specimens claimed to be more than 2,500 years old.
The nut-like seeds of ginkgo biloba are called “white fruit” in Chinese, which have various uses in traditional medicine and as a source of food. In Chinese culture, Ginkgo biloba leaves and seeds are believed to have health benefits. Nowadays, extracts of Ginkgo biloba leaves and seeds are sold as dietary supplements and have become popular in many countries because it is believed that they have memory-enhancing properties and are beneficial to people's cognitive function.