Ginkgo biloba, known as
ginkgo or as the
maidenhair tree, is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta, all others being extinct. It is found in fossils dating back 270 million years. Native to China, the tree is widely cultivated and was introduced early to
human history. It has various uses in
traditional medicine and as a source of food. The genus name
Ginkgo is regarded as a misspelling of the Japanese
gin kyo, "silver apricot".