Distinguishing characters: The peculiar branches of this tree emerge upward from a straight tapering trunk at an angle of about 45° and give to the whole tree a striking, Oriental appearance, which is quite different from that of any other tree, [Fig. 44].
Leaf: Like that of a leaflet of maidenhair fern, [Fig. 45].
Range: A native of northern China and introduced into eastern North America.
Soil and location: The gingko will grow in poor soils.
Enemies: Practically free from insects and disease.
Fig. 45.—Leaves of the Gingko Tree.
Value for planting: It makes a valuable tree for the street where heavy shade is not the object and forms an excellent wide-spreading specimen tree on the lawn.
Other characters: The fruit consists of a stone covered by sweet, ill-smelling flesh. The tree is dioecious, there being separate male and female trees. The male tree is preferable for planting in order to avoid the disagreeable odor of the fruit which appears on the female trees when about thirty years old. The male tree has a narrower crown than the female tree. The buds ([Fig. 46]) are very odd and are conspicuous on the tree throughout the winter. The leaves of the gingko shed in the winter. In this respect the tree is like the larch and the bald cypress.