Maidenhair Tree

Ginkgo biloba

Plant Data

Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo)
Male and female flowers are borne on shoots on different trees. Male catkins are thick and erect. Female catkins have long stalks and appear either singly or in pairs.
Female Ginkgo trees produce fruit that resemble small yellow plums. These fruit are longer than wide and grow up to 2cm across in diameter.
Very unique fan-shaped leaves.
Maximum Size:
12 meters tall.
Foraging Notes:
The seeds (nuts) can be eaten but are mildly toxic so cooking is advisable. The seeds are more poisonous to children but they would have to eat them over long periods of time before any side effects become evident.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.
Notorious for its foul-smelling fruit on the female trees. The rotting female fruits smell similar to vomit.
Other Names:
Duck-foot Leaf Tree, Duck's Foot Tree, Fossil Tree, Gingko, Icho, Japanese Silver Apricot, Kew Tree.
Gardens, hedgerows, parkland.