Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo biloba is also called the Japanese nut tree but unlike it's name it does not originate from Japan but instead comes from China. Ginkgo is a living fossil. It was one of the oldest tree species that developed wood. Ginkgo probably evolved from the so called seed ferns (Peltaspermales). The oldest Ginkgo fossils are 270 million years old, much older than the dinosaurs. Ginkgo probably evolved around the same time as Cycads. Because the Ginkgo could grow above the existing vegetation it had an evolutionary advantage. There are theories that among others, Ginkgo was responsible for the worlds largest mass extinction (Permian-Triassic Extinction, 250 million year ago) when about 80% of all life on earth became extinct. The reason was that there were no micro organisms that could break down the wooden parts. Because of that carbon dioxide concentrations dropped and oxygen levels raised. Ginkgo's probably were a victim of their own success. During the millions of years all Ginkgo species became extinct, just one single species managed to survive until today; Ginkgo biloba which still looks similar today as in Jurassic times. In the autumn the leaves turn beautiful yellow after which then fall from the tree and form a yellow carpet. Because the Ginkgo as survived all these years it is a very though tree that can tolerate temperatures down to -35°C.