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Ginkgo
''Ginkgo'' is a genus of non-flowering seed plants. The scientific name is also used as the English name. The order to which it belongs, Ginkgoales, first appeared in the Permian, 270 million years ago, and is now the only living genus within the order. The rate of evolution within the genus has been slow, and almost all its species had become extinct by the end of the Pliocene. The sole surviving species, ''Ginkgo biloba'' is only found in the wild in China, but is cultivated around the world. The relationships between ginkgos and other groups of plants are not fully resolved. Prehistory The ginkgo (''Ginkgo biloba'') is a living fossil, with fossils similar to the modern plant dating back to the Permian, 270 million years ago. The closest living relatives of the clade are the cycads, which share with the extant ''G. biloba'' the characteristic of motile sperm. The ginkgo and cycad lineages are thought to have an extremely ancient divergence dating to the early Ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Biloba
''Ginkgo biloba'', commonly known as ginkgo or gingko ( ), also known as the maidenhair tree, is a species of tree native to China. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Fossils very similar to the living species, belonging to the genus ''Ginkgo'', extend back to the Middle Jurassic approximately 170 million years ago. The tree was cultivated early in human history and remains commonly planted. Ginkgo leaf extract is commonly used as a dietary supplement, but there is no scientific evidence that it supports human health or is effective against any disease. Etymology The genus name is regarded as a misspelling of the Japanese pronunciation ''gin kyo'' for the kanji 銀杏 meaning "silver apricot", which is found in Chinese herbology literature such as (Daily Use Materia Medica) (1329) and ''Compendium of Materia Medica'' published in 1578.T. Hori, A historical survey of Ginkgo biloba based on Japanese and Ch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgoales
Ginkgoales are a gymnosperm order containing only one extant species: ''Ginkgo biloba'', the ginkgo tree. It is monotypic, (the only taxon) within the class Ginkgoopsida, which itself is monotypic within the division Ginkgophyta . The order includes five families, of which only Ginkgoaceae remains extant. History Ginkgophyta and Cycadophyta have a very ancient divergence dating to the early Carboniferous. The earliest representative of the group in the fossil record is probably '' Trichopitys'' from the Asselian (299-293 million years ago) of France. The earliest representatives of ''Ginkgo'', represented by reproductive organs similar to the living species, first appear in the Middle Jurassic, alongside other, related forms such as ''Yimaia'' and ''Karkenia'', which have differently arranged reproductive structures and seeds associated with ''Ginkgo''-like leaves. The diversity of Ginkgoales declined during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, coincident with the rise of flowerin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Huttonii
''Ginkgo huttonii'' is an extinct Ginkgo species in the family Ginkgoaceae from the Jurassic of England. The fossil is also known by the name, ''Ginkgoites huttonii'', the genus, Ginkgoites, referring to a group of extinct members of the Ginkgoaceae. ''G. huttonii'' was a broad-leaved, deciduous gymnosperm bearing resemblance to the only living member of the Ginkgoaceae, Ginkgo biloba. Description ''Ginkgo huttonii'' is known largely by compression fossils of its leaves. Similar to other members of the ''Ginkgoites'', the fossil leaves of ''G. huttonii'' are simple, four-lobed, and have dense, radially disposed venation. ''G. huttonii'' fossil seeds are frequently found as well as at least a few fossilized male catkins. ''G. huttonii'' wood has yet to be described but it is likely the plant was similar to the extant, ''G. biloba'', with wood akin to that of modern-day conifers. Distribution ''G. huttonii'' is heavily represented in the Jurassic flora of Yorkshire, England - a f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Apodes
''Ginkgo apodes'' is an extinct species of plant in the order Ginkgoales. It is known from fossils found in the Yixian Formation dated to the Tithonian period, from the Late Jurassic, located near Mount Yinwoshan, Yixian region, Liaoning Province, China. The leaves of ''G. apodes'' are similar to those that are known in the rest of the representatives of the genus ''Ginkgo'', with a fan-shaped leaf characterized by finger-like lobes. Description The ovulate organs of ''G. apodes'' bear a cluster of up to 6 ovules that grow out from the apex of the peduncle. These fruits can have 1-3 seeds inside of them. ''G. apodes'' has been helpful in understanding Ginkgo evolution because it filled the gap between the Jurassic and Paleocene, and is morphologically between Ginkgo yimaensis and Ginkgo biloba. Name The name "Ginkgo" comes from its Japanese name, ''Gin an'' and ''Itsjò'', which means "silver apricot". This came from a transliteration made by Engelbert Kaempfer, the first Eu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Cranei
''Ginkgo cranei'' is an extinct ''Ginkgo'' species in the family Ginkgoaceae described from a series of isolated fossil ovulate organs and leaves. The species is known from upper Paleocene sediments exposed in the state of North Dakota, USA. It is the first ''Ginkgo'' species to be described from Paleogene period with reproductive structures. History and classification ''Ginkgo cranei'' is represented by a group of fossil specimens from the Upper Paleocene aged Sentinel Butte Formation exposed near the town of Almont, North Dakota. The specimens are preserved in a fine-grained yellow- to brown-colored shale with a notably high iron content. Fossils found in the shales are often three-dimensionally preserved with stem and seed structure intact. The age of the formation is based on the recovery of late Tiffanian mammals in the upper section of the formation along with the floral and palynological assemblages of the formation. Many of the ''G. cranei'' seeds are preserved as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Adiantoides
''Ginkgo adiantoides'' is an extinct ginkgo species in the family Ginkgoaceae from the Late Cretaceous to the Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen .... Evolutionary history is unresolved. Morphological and molecular data show a wide range of possible relationships with cycads and conifers. Ginkgo leaves were borne on both long and short shoots on lateral branches of the main stem. They are recognized by their distinctive leaf shape and open dichotomous venation pattern. Ginkogoales are spermatophytes, belong to the lignophyte clade, and are euphyllophytes. References * Paleobotany, Second Edition: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants by Thomas N. Taylor, Edith L. Taylor and Michael Krings - Page 748 * North America Through Time: A Paleontological Hist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Dissecta
''Ginkgo dissecta'' is an extinct ginkgo species in the family Ginkgoaceae described from a series of isolated fossil leaf, leaves. The species is known from Eocene, Early Eocene sediments exposed in the province of British Columbia, Canada, and Washington (U.S. state), Washington, USA. It is one of two ''Ginkgo'' species found at the Washington and British Columbia sites. History and classification ''Ginkgo dissecta'' is represented by a group of fossil specimens from four different geologic formations. The type locality (biology), type locality for the species is at the Ypresian McAbee Fossil Beds, near Cache Creek, British Columbia, in the Tranquille Formation belonging to the Kamloops Group. ''G. dissecta'' is also known from the similarly aged sites of the Klondike Mountain Formation, which crop out around the town of Republic, Washington, Republic, Ferry County, Washington. At least one specimen has been recovered from the fossil sites around the town of Princeton, Brit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Yimaensis
''Ginkgo yimaensis'' is an extinct ginkgo species in the family Ginkgoaceae. It is a gymnosperm, first described by Zhou and Zhang. Description ''Ginkgo yimaensis'' differs from the extant '' G. biloba'' only slightly. The leaves were deeply divided, resembling closer the sucker shoots and seedling leaving of ''G. biloba''. The seeds were also borne on individual stocks, unlike ''G. biloba'' which forms seeds sessile. The size of the seeds from specimens has ranged 10-15 mm for length and 8-12 mm for width. ''G. yimaensis'' also had pedicels 15-16 mm in length. The megaspore membrane of ''G. yimaensis'' and ''G. biloba'' are similar. However, it appears ''G. biloba'' has developed structurally beyond that of ''G. yimaensis,'' possibly by peramorphosis means. Distribution Material of ''Ginkgo yimaensis'' has been found in the Yima Formation of Henan, China, dating back to the Middle Jurassic The Middle Jurassic is the second epoch of the Jurassic Period. It lasted from about 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jurassic
The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The Jurassic constitutes the middle period of the Mesozoic, Mesozoic Era and is named after the Jura Mountains, where limestone strata from the period were first identified. The start of the Jurassic was marked by the major Triassic–Jurassic extinction event, associated with the eruption of the Central Atlantic magmatic province, Central Atlantic Magmatic Province. The beginning of the Toarcian Stage started around 183 million years ago and is marked by an extinction event associated with widespread Anoxic event, oceanic anoxia, ocean acidification, and elevated temperatures likely caused by the eruption of the Karoo-Ferrar, Karoo-Ferrar large igneous provinces. The end of the Jurassic, however, has no clear boundary with the Cretaceous and i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Living Fossil
A living fossil is an extant taxon that cosmetically resembles related species known only from the fossil record. To be considered a living fossil, the fossil species must be old relative to the time of origin of the extant clade. Living fossils commonly are of species-poor lineages, but they need not be. While the body plan of a living fossil remains superficially similar, it is never the same species as the remote relatives it resembles, because genetic drift would inevitably change its chromosomal structure. Living fossils exhibit stasis (also called "bradytely") over geologically long time scales. Popular literature may wrongly claim that a "living fossil" has undergone no significant evolution since fossil times, with practically no molecular evolution or morphological changes. Scientific investigations have repeatedly discredited such claims. The minimal superficial changes to living fossils are mistakenly declared as an absence of evolution, but they are examples of s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ginkgo Gardneri
''Ginkgo gardneri'' is an extinct ginkgo species in the family Ginkgoaceae from the Paleocene of Ardtun Head, Isle of Mull, Scotland, described in 1936 by Rudolf Florin. This species is very closely related to '' G. biloba'', the only living species of the genus ''Ginkgo ''Ginkgo'' is a genus of non-flowering seed plants. The scientific name is also used as the English name. The order to which it belongs, Ginkgoales, first appeared in the Permian, 270 million years ago, and is now the only living genus within ...''. References gardneri Paleocene plants Prehistoric trees Flora of Scotland {{Paleo-gymnosperm-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seed Plants
A spermatophyte (; ), also known as phanerogam (taxon Phanerogamae) or phaenogam (taxon Phaenogamae), is any plant that produces seeds, hence the alternative name seed plant. Spermatophytes are a subset of the embryophytes or land plants. They include most familiar types of plants, including all flowers and most trees, but exclude some other types of plants such as ferns, mosses, algae. The term ''phanerogams'' or ''phanerogamae'' is derived from the Greek (), meaning "visible", in contrast to the cryptogamae (), together with the suffix (), meaning "to marry". These terms distinguished those plants with hidden sexual organs (cryptogamae) from those with visible sexual organs (phanerogamae). Description The extant spermatophytes form five divisions, the first four of which are traditionally grouped as gymnosperms, plants that have unenclosed, "naked seeds": * Cycadophyta, the cycads, a subtropical and tropical group of plants, * Ginkgophyta, which includes a single living spec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
