Ginkgophyta

Ginkgophyta is a division of seed plants within the gymnosperms that contains a single extant genus, Ginkgo. The sole living species, Ginkgo biloba, is commonly known as the maidenhair tree. Ginkgophyta has a rich fossil record; Ginkgoales were widespread in the Jurassic and earlier, but today the lineage persists only in cultivated and some relict populations in China. The division is characterized by a long lineage with distinctive dichotomous-vened, fan-shaped leaves, and by its dioecious reproductive system.

Ginkgo trees are deciduous and can become large, often reaching 15–30 meters in height. The leaves are fan-shaped with rounded lobes and two or more dichotomous veins. Leaves turn bright yellow in autumn. Ginkgo biloba exhibits wind pollination; male trees produce pollen cones, female trees develop ovules that become seeds with a fleshy outer coat that can give a foul odor when mature.

In cultivation, Ginkgo biloba is valued for its ornamental form, urban tolerance, and drought resistance. The seeds have been used in East Asian cuisine and traditional medicine, though raw seeds contain toxins and are consumed in limited quantities.

Conservation: wild G. biloba populations are limited to parts of eastern China, while the species is widely planted elsewhere. The Ginkgophyta as a group is of interest for studying ancient gymnosperm lineages due to its relative morphological conservatism and paleobotanical history.