The ginkgo tree is one of the oldest living tree species in the world. Long before flowering plants colored the world and before birds filled the skies, the ancestors of the ginkgo tree were already spreading their fan-shaped leaves beneath ancient sunlight.
Officially known as Ginkgo biloba, the ginkgo has survived some of history’s most extraordinary moments. They can also live for thousands of years, and seem almost entirely immune to disease. But what, exactly, is so phenomenal about this species? And how has it lasted this long? Click on to find out.