The oldest tree known to man and a resident of western Pennsylvania - the Ginkgo biloba

The Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is a tree that was planted during the sooty industrial days of our region because of its tolerance to such conditions. A unique tree, it is one of the oldest known to man, but is not native to North America. It dates to prehistoric times and is often referred to as the “living fossil.” It was saved from extinction by Buddhist priests who preserved it in temples in Japan, China and Korea. The fruit has a unpleasant odor. It features a straight trunk and an open, pyramid-shaped crown. As the tree gets older, the crown becomes wide-spreading and irregular. The Parkway North (I-279) on Pittsburgh's North Side is lined with young ginkgo trees. The trees can reach a height of 50' to 70' high and 30' to 40' in width. The leaves are simple, alternate; 3-5 in clusters on spurs; 1”-2” long, 1-1/2”-3” wide. They appear now as light green, turning yellow and shedding in autumn.

This tree is featured in a new section on our Website -- The Trees of Pittsburgh.

Ginkgo biloba

This leaf from a tree in the East,
Has been given to my garden.
It reveals a certain secret,
Which pleases me and thoughtful people.
Does it represent One living creature
Which has divided itself?
Or are these Two, which have decided,
That they should be as One?
To reply to such a Question,
I found the right answer:
Do you notice in my songs and verses
That I am One and Two?

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 
German Poet, Scientist and Botanist - 1749-1832

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