Gnomon: MMF's original version of Ginkgo before combining with Edited Entry
Created | Updated Apr 7, 2011
Kew Gardens' Important Trees
Overview
| English oak
| Chestnut-leaved Oak
| Holm oak
| The Lucombe oak
| Turner's oak
| Indian horse chestnut
| Sweet chestnut
| Corsican pine
| Stone pine
| North American tulip tree
| Caucasian elm
| False acacia
| Maidenhair tree
| Oriental plane
| Pagoda tree
GuideML
Editing
Links
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Ginkgophyta
Class: Ginkgoopsida
Order: Ginkgoales
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Genus: Ginkgo
Species: biloba
The maidenhair tree, also well known by its scientific name of Ginkgo biloba, is an 'Old Lion' of Kew Gardens: planted in 1762, it is a survivor of the original arboretum. At that time it was uncertain how hardy it was and so it was planted next to the wall of the great stove glasshouse, now long since gone. It is a male tree, and is a true Lion.
The maidenhair tree species is largely found in China and has a long lifespan, many trees reaching ages of some thousands of years, being resistant to both weather and pest damage. In fact, one specimen was one of the few living things to survive the explosion of 'Little Boy', the atomic bomb that was detonated over Hiroshima on 9 August, 1945 - that tree survives to this day.
It is possibly one of the oldest species of tree still living, as trees are recognised these days, with fossils closely resembling this plant dating it back 270m years1. Its longevity is demonstrated by it being dioecious, that is, having separate male and female plants. Other examples of similar plants from the same period include the Monkey Puzzle tree - Araucaria araucana, and the cycads, of which Kew has an example in the Palm house: Encephalartos altensteinii2.
The maidenhair tree is so named because of its distinctive leaves, which are fan shaped and resemble the maidenhair fern - Adiantum raddianum (an example of which can be found in the Princess of Wales Conservatory). The leaves are a vibrant green, turning a vivid yellow in autumn with a quick loss of leaves.
Apart from its leaves, other features of the species are its height, reaching 164 feet (50m), its longevity and possibly its many uses in the health trade. Most of its health properties are unproven, but have many adherents and believers. Its main perceived benefit is in memory enhancement, although it is also believed to be good for reducing the effects of ageing in the skin and circulation.
