Ginkgo fossil Specimen of fossilized leaves of the Ginkgo tree Ginkgo sp Ginkgos formed a significant element of Mesozoic period around million years ago flora Today however the group is represented by just one surviving species Ginkgo biloba the Maidenhair tree Ginkgo biloba may have only been saved from extinction by the attentions of gardeners in the Far East it was first seen by a European in Japan in As the sole survivor of a once great race G biloba might well be described as a living fossil
