Mature Ginko Trees After Leaf Fall At Side Of Walkway At Shaolin Temple.

The Ginko Trees at the Shaolin Temple retain only a few of their fan-shaped leaves after their brief display of autumn colors, when the leaves of the Ginko Trees present a magnificent show of gold. The Ginko Tree is also known as the Maidenhair Tree, and the fan-shaped leaves of the Ginko tree have no resemblance whatsoever to the 'leaves' of the conifers, although both trees are of the same species. Most conifers are everygreen but the Ginko is a decideus tree, and for a short time before the leaves fall, the Ginko trees put on a magnicient display of autumn color, with the Ginko leaves looking like goldleaf, particularly in the sunlight.

From fossils of the Ginko tree discovered in many parts of Europe and Asia it has been established that the characteristics of the Ginko tree have remained practically unchanged over millions of years. The Ginko tree has survived all the changes in the environment that have taken place during past centuries, and can resist the modern day air pollution by smoke, freezing temperatures, and water shortages, so it is a popular tree for street planting. The fruit of the Ginko tree hang like a small bunch of cherries, from the ''female'' tree, and the nut or seed is used in some food dishes, particularly in Asia. However, the pulp of the Ginko fruit borne by the ''female'' tree has an unpleasant odour, so it is the ''male'' tree that is usually chosen for ornamental use.

In some parts of Asia the leaves of the Ginko trees are believed to have some medicinal benefits, so the Ginko leaves are harvested and offered for sale on street stalls, and are also used in the preparation of Chinese medicines.

''''' Ginkgo Trees
Ginkgos are dioecious, with separate sexes, some trees being female and others being male. Male plants produce small pollen cones with sporophylls each bearing two microsporangia spirally arranged around a central axis. Female plants do not produce cones. Two ovules are formed at the end of a stalk, and after pollination, one or both develop into seeds. The seed is 1.5-2 cm long. Its fleshy outer layer (the sarcotesta) is light yellow-brown, soft, and fruit-like. It is attractive in appearance, but contains butanoic acid and smells like rancid butter when fallen. Beneath the sarcotesta is the hard sclerotesta (what is normally known as the "shell" of the seed) and a papery endotesta, with the nucellus surrounding the female gametophyte at the center. Src: Wikipedia.com. '''''