Ginkgo

Striking specimen tree with unique fan-shaped leaves that turn brilliant golden-yellow in fall. Excellent street tree due to pollution tolerance. Female trees produce malodorous fruit, so male cultivars like 'Autumn Gold' preferred. Pyramidal when young, becoming broad with age. Creates dramatic seasonal interest and living fossil appeal.

Leaves used in traditional medicine for cognitive function, memory enhancement, and circulation improvement. Standardized extracts contain flavonoids and terpenoids. Seeds (nuts) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine but require careful preparation due to toxins. Modern research focuses on dementia, tinnitus, and peripheral vascular disease applications.

Inner seed kernel (ginkgo nut) is edible when cooked, popular in Asian cuisine with sweet, slightly bitter taste. Must be consumed in moderation due to mild toxins. Commonly added to congee, stir-fries, and desserts in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cooking. Seeds harvested in autumn after removing foul-smelling outer flesh.

Living fossil unchanged for 200 million years, sole survivor of ancient plant family. Dioecious species requiring separate male and female trees for reproduction. Extremely resilient to urban pollution, pests, and diseases. Provides late-season food for wildlife through seeds. Can live over 1,000 years, supporting long-term ecosystem stability.

Deciduous tree to 35m with distinctive fan-shaped, bilobed leaves with parallel veins. Bark grey and deeply furrowed with age. Male catkins 2-3cm, female flowers on long stalks. Fruit plum-like, 2-3cm, yellow-orange with foul smell. Leaves turn uniform golden-yellow in autumn. Two-lobed leaf shape is unique among trees.

Light, soft wood with fine, even grain, yellowish-brown color. Limited commercial availability but valued in Japan for carved items, tea ceremony utensils, and chopping boards. Good for interior paneling and furniture. Not durable outdoors but takes stain and polish well. Traditional use in Asian temple construction and religious artifacts.

Survived atomic bomb in Hiroshima, with several trees still living near blast center. No known living relatives, called a 'living fossil.' Name means 'silver apricot' in Chinese. Can change sex from male to female. Sacred tree in Buddhism and Confucianism. Some specimens in China estimated at 3,000+ years old.