Ginkgo Biloba

These Ginkgo leaves are beginning to turn yellow around the edges, a sign of the recent change in weather. The Ginkgo tree is regarded by biologists as a living fossil because it disappeared from the fossil record everywhere except a small area in Central China. Today there are two small areas in Zhejiang Province where Ginkgos grow in the wild. However, because of their close genetic uniformity it is thought that they were likely planted by Chinese monks in a successful attempt to preserve the tree. Ginkgos are known for their longevity. There is a Gingko tree in Shandong Province that is over 3000 years old! They are disease/insect resistant and can tolerate pollution, light soils and confined spaces which makes them a great urban tree. Because the tree is revered in Buddhism it was cultivated in Korea and Japan. When the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, four Gingko trees survived the blast and are still alive to this day! The seeds of the Gingko are edible and quite tasty. The leaves are medicinal and are used primarily to enhance memory. It improves circulation to the brain and the limbs, lowers blood pressure, protects against cell damage, and may even be useful in treating Alzheimer's disease. The active ingredient in the leaves is most potent once they turn yellow. I might try to make a Gingko extract this fall to help me remember all the Chinese characters I've been studying!