——–The Ginkgo——–
Native to China, the Ginkgo, also known as the Maidenhair tree since its leaves recall the Maidenhair fern, is the oldest existing tree species in the world. For the Chinese, the Ginkgo is a symbol of hope and peace, and this symbol is prominent in their art and literature.
The history dates of the Ginkgo go back to the time of dinosaurs judging by discoveries of fossil records from 225 million years ago. Ginkgos are often referenced as “living fossils.”
There used to be as many as twenty varieties of the Ginkgo tree,which existed during the Triassac and Mesazoic eras. Due to global changes, all the different varieties of the Ginkgo tree were wiped out, except one which is what we see today. Ginkgo trees can grow up to 625 feet tall! Chinese monks introduced Ginkgo trees in Japan, where the Ginkgo is referred to as Hibaku, a Japanese word that means: “something that has experienced a nuclear bomb”. In August 1945, the Ginkgo became one of the 170 Hibaku trees that survived the atomic blast of Hiroshima. Despite predictions that nothing would grow for 75 years, and although the Ginkgo experienced extreme damage, the trees fully recovered.
The female Ginkgo produces a fruit whose scent, when broken open in the Autumn, reminds one of vomit. Isn’t that pleasant?
