Ginkgo

Ginkgo biloba

North Idaho College campus

Standing sentry at the walkway to the museum is a small ginkgo tree. Its fan-shaped leaves are unique and very distinctive.

Ginkgo is one of the oldest trees on earth, tracing its ancestors back for 150 million years. Fossil records show that it was once native to North America, but became extinct. The ginkgo was re-introduced to North America from China, Japan and Korea, where it was cultivated for centuries in temple gardens. It is now commonly planted throughout much of the United States as an ornamental and street tree.

The fleshy covering of the seed on the female ginkgo tree is quite "malodorous." Therefore only male trees should be planted.

Nominated by: Theresa Foster