Ginkgo biloba is the plant species known as a living fossil with fan-shaped leaves and seeds covered by a fleshy coat.
Ginkgo is the only living species in the division Ginkgophyta, a lineage that was widespread during the Mesozoic Era. Its distinctive leaves usually have two lobes, which is why the species name is often associated with a fan shape. Ginkgo trees are deciduous gymnosperms, not flowering plants.
The fleshy outer layer around a ginkgo seed is not a fruit in the botanical sense, because ginkgoes do not produce flowers or fruits. It contains butyric acid, which gives fallen seeds a strong rancid smell. Male and female reproductive structures are produced on separate trees, making ginkgo a dioecious species.
Ginkgo trees are also valued as long-lived urban trees because they tolerate pollution and compacted soil. The spelling “ginkgo” arose from a historical transcription error, while “maidenhair tree” is its common English name.