ginkgo
noun
called also maidenhair tree
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There is only one living representative of the gymnosperm order Ginkgoales, and that is the tree Ginkgo biloba. Native to China, the ginkgo has existed for some 250 million years and is often termed a living fossil. It has long been planted in Chinese and Japanese temple gardens, and is valued in many parts of the world as an attractive, fungus- and insect-resistant ornamental tree. It tolerates cold weather and can survive the adverse atmospheric conditions of urban areas. The light-colored wood, is soft and weak and has little economic value. The leaves are fan-shaped and leathery. The silvery nut, when roasted, is considered a delicacy. Studies have suggested that ginkgo supplements can enhance memory function in the elderly and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Examples of ginkgo in a Sentence
Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2024
At 150th and Grand Concourse, ginkgo fruit on a bench showed evidence of having been gnawed by rodents.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Some amass leaves or seeds or even images, such as Jianming Shen, who photographs ancient ginkgoes of particular significance in eastern China.
—Kathleen Yale, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Cycads are gymnosperms, a group that includes conifers and ginkgos.
—Laura Cinti, Ars Technica, 16 June 2024
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“Ginkgo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ginkgo. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
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ginkgo
noun
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