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The leaf
Biloba means two lobed and the name denotes the fan shaped leaf that
is split in the middle and appears to have two lobes.
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Fruits of the Ginkgo tree |
Leaf of the Gingko tree |
The growth pattern
When the Ginkgo Biloba tree is young, its trunk is shaped like a pyramid and its
growth is lateral. As it grows older the branches become irregular
and the limbs and trunk become enormous. Its canopy starts widening
when it turns a hundred years old. When compared, the male tree is
slightly slimmer and taller and the female tree is wider and more
spread out. The older trees appear huge mostly due to a secondary
growth of several vertical trunks. Branches that manage to reach the
ground grow roots as well. Small peg like structures that grow on
the trunk are believed to be the disease fighters that contribute to
the longevity of the tree. The bark of the tree is brownish grey and
the wood inside is colored yellow.
They can grow up to 40 meters in height and spread their branches to
cover nine meters. The trunk may measure up to four meters in width.
Some unusually large trees - 50 meters in height and spanning 10
meters in width have also been found.
Its place in botany
Sakugoro Hirase, a Japanese scientist proved that the Ginkgo had an
intermediate position between ferns and conifers. His work led to
the establishment of a new botanical family Ginkgoaceae. Its
earliest leaf fossils date back to 270 million years ago in the
Permian period. The Ginkgo is a dioecious gymnosperm. This means
that the Ginkgo tree can be either a male tree or a female tree. The
female tree is generally not used for ornamental purposes as the
seeds give out a disagreeable odor. The Ginkgo is considered to be
the only living link between plants of the lower order and those of
the higher order.
Poems, designs and bombs
The German poet, scientist, botanist and philosopher Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe wrote a poem with the Ginkgo leaf as the central theme.
Many painters have painted the tree and it has been used as an
inspiration by many designers to produce motifs used on garments,
family crests, logos etc.
Hiroshima was bombed during the Second World War. The resultant
havoc devastated human, plant and animal life in the area. The
single survivor without any deformation or damages was a Ginkgo
tree! |
