Fauna
Plant

Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

Also known as Maidenhair Tree

Ginkgo is a long-lived deciduous tree with fan-shaped leaves divided by radiating forked veins. Its open crown turns clear yellow in autumn, often shedding much of its foliage over a short period.

Ancient LineageFan-shaped LeavesDeciduous Tree
Ginkgo reference1 / 7
EecherplazGinkgo06.jpg: Cayambe derivative work: Ginkgotree (talk) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic; deep and spreading roots absorb water and mineral nutrients
Predators
  • Leaf-feeding insects
  • Browsing mammals
  • Seed-eating rodents
ThreatsExtremely restricted wild populations, habitat loss, low recruitment, and genetic mixing with cultivated stock
HabitatsCultivated streets, parks, temple grounds, gardens, and remnant temperate forest habitat
Life spanExceptionally long-lived; individual trees can survive for many centuries
Classification
  1. OrderGinkgoales
  2. FamilyGinkgoaceae
  3. GenusGinkgo
  4. SpeciesGinkgo biloba
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Fleshy seed coats irritate skin, and misidentification is dangerous; do not eat or ingest wild-collected ginkgo material.
Why it is dangerous
Fleshy seed coats contain contact irritants, while raw or excessive seed kernels can cause serious neurologic poisoning.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Fan-shaped leaves with evenly forked veins distinguish ginkgo, but fallen reproductive material still requires caution.
What to do
Wear gloves around fleshy seed coats, prevent child and pet access, and never consume wild-collected material.
What to notice
Verify fan-shaped leaves with dichotomously branching veins and short spur shoots on older twigs.
Support conservation
Observe remnant wild trees without collecting leaves, seeds, bark, or cuttings, and keep exact locations private.
Responsible observation
  • Leaves: Confirm fan shape and veins that repeatedly fork without forming a network.
  • Handling: Avoid touching fallen fleshy seed coverings with bare skin.
  • Protect: Never collect material from remnant wild populations.
Related species

Related species have not been added yet.

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