The Ginkgoaceae is a family of gymnosperms which appeared during the Mesozoic Era, of which the only extant representative is Ginkgo biloba, which is for this reason sometimes regarded as a living fossil. Formerly, however, there were several other genera, and forests of ginkgo existed. Because leaves can take such diverse forms within a single species, these are a poor measure of diversity, although differing structures of wood point to the existence of diverse ginkgo forests in ancient times.[3]

Ginkgoaceae
Temporal range: Permian–Present
Jurassic Ginkgo leaves
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Ginkgophyta
Class: Ginkgoopsida
Order: Ginkgoales
Family: Ginkgoaceae
Engl.[1][2]
Genera

References

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  1. ^ "Ginkgoaceae Engl". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ginkgoaceae Engl". World Flora Online. n.d. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Gnaedinger, S. (2011). "Ginkgoalean woods from the Jurassic of Argentina: Taxonomic considerations and palaeogeographical distribution". Geobios. 45 (2): 187–198. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2011.01.007. hdl:11336/25674.
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