Ginkgo Biloba

Habitat
 Perennial deciduous tree, native to eastern China. Cultivate with care, grow in gallon pots for a year or two before transplanting seedlings to their permanent location in the garden or landscape. Often planted as a shade tree; rarely found outside of cultivated areas.

Folklore
Ginkgo is strong in legend and lore of China, and has been lovingly adopted by most cultures in the temperate regions of earth. Darwin called it a living fossil, the only species remaining of a genus which flourished in the time of the dinosaurs. Gingko is held or carried to help improve the memory. A mild tea prior to bedtime will help to remember dreams during sleep.

Description:
Large, planted deciduous tree with distinctive, fan-shaped leaves. Leaves attached in clusters or alternately. Leaves are light green fading to yellow at the edge. Edge is wavy, veins are parallel, but there is no central vein. Bark is gray.

Uses and Parts Used - Seeds
Seeds are cooked and used for treatment of lung ailments in traditional Chinese medicine.         Leaves
Used externally to remove freckles and sooth sores. Highly concentrated ginkgo leaf extract ingested to improve circulation to the brain and as an antioxidant. Proven to relieve memory loss and improve mood in early stages of Alzheimer's.

Notes
Approved in Germany for treatment of memory loss, poor concentration, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and vertigo. Flesh of fruit is foul-smelling and poisonous. Fruits and seeds may cause dermatitis, and rarely, leaf extracts may cause gastrointestinal pain.