Ginkgo biloba
ginkgo
Locations in Hudson River Park:
Morton - Christopher Gallery Memorial Square Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera Christopher - Charles Gallery W12th - Gansevoort Gallery |
Kingdom Plantae – plants
Subkingdom Viridiplantae – green plants Infrakingdom Streptophyta – land plants Superdivision Embryophyta Division Tracheophyta – vascular plants Subdivision Spermatophytina – seed plants Class Ginkgoopsida Subclass Ginkgooidae Order Ginkgoales Family Ginkgoaceae – Ginkgo family Genus Ginkgo L. – ginkgo Species Ginkgo biloba L. – ginkgo, maidenhair tree |
Maidenhair Tree
銀杏 (ichoo, Japanese) (ginnan, Japanese) = "silver apricot"
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Native to China
Native habitat: Unclear due to long history of cultivation in China and Japan Once native throughout Northern Hemisphere, extinct during Pleistocene Ice Age, survived in China Living fossil, related to similar trees of Permian Period (270 mya), before dinosaurs appeared Life span: 1000 years |
What may be found on Ginkgo trunks
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Caution:
Ginkgo leaves and the fleshy outer layer of the seeds contain chemicals
related to the urushiol found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison
sumac that can cause an allergic reaction resulting in a skin rash.
Take precautions when handling the "fruit" of the ginkgo.
Toxic Parts:
Fleshy, outer pulp of the seeds, and raw seed kernel Toxin Delivery Mode: Ingestion, skin contact Symptoms: Irritation of the skin following contact with juice of the seed pulp; irritation of lips, mouth, and throat and stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea after eating pulp |
Edibility:
EDIBLE PARTS: The seed, freed of the outer pulp and washed, is boiled or roasted and eaten in the Orient and also available in Asian food stores |
Toxic Principles:
An alkyl phenol and ginkgolic acid Severity: TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES |
Tree / Buds / Bark
Tree
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Foliage
Leaves
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"Flowers"
Fruit
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