The Tree with a Shower Sex Life

By Arav Singh

Did you know that during rainy showers, there is a tree that procreates? The dioecious Gingko biloba rains motile sperm during rainfall. Besides the cycads, it is the only living seed plant to contain flagellate sperm. And, yes, I know what you are thinking, but that title is not my creation; it is a joke our teacher made in Botany class. But, let’s move on, as this is not all that is unique about the Gingko.

The tree is sort of a trickster. With its fan shaped leaves, it is often a favorite for many, however, it is not an angiosperm (like the common maples and oaks you see). Instead, it is a gymnosperm (such as a fir, spruce, pine, and other typical spiky needle-like foliage plant).

Surprisingly, the Gingko too produces naked seeds which earns it gymnosperm classification. For reference, angiosperms are fruit producing trees while gymnosperms product naked seeds (seeds not encased by protective fruit).

Besides this fact, this species has many other interesting facts that render it unique. Gingko biloba (both its scientific name and a general name), also known as the maidenhair tree, the Japanese silver apricot, and the fossil tree is the sole member of the Gingko genus, Gingkoacaeae family, order Gingoales, class Ginkgoopsida, and ultimately phylum Ginkgophyta. As one of its common names implies, it truly is a fossil tree as one of the oldest living tree species (predating dinosaurs), and the last Gingko remaining.

As one may guess, it has incredible durability and flexibility as a tree, capable of growing in all sorts of ranging climates, urban pollution, poor soil, and low watering conditions. It is a tree that has survived several ice ages as well. This resilience has earned the tree a very high rating in evolutionary toughness.

Many plants that have incredible resilience often focus all their energy on this trait. Yet, this Gingko still has brilliant herbal properties and has been used for medicine since ancient times. It supposedly improves blood circulation, increases energy levels, and has been shown to enhance both memory and cognitive function by some studies. Furthermore, it also enhances cardiovascular function and decreases blood pressure for hypertensive audiences while improving eye health. Some studies have found its effects to be beneficial against diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and other dementia, and heart disease due to the flavonoids and terpenoids contained, which are both powerful antioxidants that stop damage to DNA and other cells. The benefits to taking gingko biloba are numerous.

A lot of products also use Gingko. Many energy drinks or mineral waters, such as Rockstar, are known to use Gingko for its ability to increase mental sharpness and improve energy levels. Gingko is also available in supplement forms readily.

However, as with any medicine, there are risks as well. Gingko biloba should not be consumed by older populations and those of weak health or patients with severe chronic conditions. Consumption of large amounts of gingkotoxin, found in gingko seeds, can also cause seizures. Furthermore, research on gingko is still limited. Most of the claims around Gingko are likely true, however, many critics claim that more evidence is certainly needed on the Gingko’s ability to solve neurodegenerative disorders to advance a stronger claim. With all risks considered, if used, Gingko should be taking sparingly.

But, enough with the medicinal uses. The tree itself still has more uniquity to it that should be appreciated. While most trees drop their leaves over several weeks, the Gingko only takes 4 hours on a particular day. One could be reading a book by a full Gingko and after about three of four hundred pages, one look up would show a barren tree. I suppose, with roughly 300 million years of history, the tree would certainly have gained many secrets with time that have yet to be revealed.

Truly, the Ginko is a fascinating specimen. From its evolutionary history, herbal properties, taxonomical classifications, to its reproductive nature, it stands without relative as its fan-shaped leaves flutter in the winds. If you find a Gingko tree near you, observe it in the fall. A certain day will come, where within about 4 hours, the tree drops away all its foliage – another characteristic unique to the Gingko.