4 Easy Ginkgo Leaf Crafts for Kids: Fox, Elephant & More

🍂 A Living Fossil

The Ginkgo is one of the oldest living tree species in the world. It is often called a “living fossil” because similar leaves have been found in fossils from the dinosaur era! They are often planted as street trees or in parks.

👫 Male and Female Trees

They all look the same, but Ginkgo trees actually have “Males” and “Females.”
Only the female trees produce the fruit (nuts) that have that distinctive, strong smell.

Female Leaf? (Shallow split)

Male Leaf? (Deep split)

*There is a theory that you can tell them apart by the split in the leaf, but it’s said to be difficult to know for sure until the fruit actually grows.

🍴 A Japanese Delicacy

In Japan, the nut inside the smelly fruit is called “Ginnan” and is eaten in savory egg custards or roasted as a snack with sake.

Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as ginkgo or gingko, is a species of gymnosperm tree native to China. It is the last living species in the order Ginkgoales, which first appeared over 290 million years ago. Source: Wikipedia