Ginkgoaceae

Ginkgoaceae Temporal range:
Jurassic Ginkgo leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Ginkgophyta
Class:	Ginkgoopsida
Order:	Ginkgoales
Family:	Ginkgoaceae Engl.
Genera
†Baiera †Baieroxylon †Cheirophyllum Ginkgo †Ginkgoites †Ginkgoïdium †Ginkgopitys †Phoenicopsis †Polyspermophyllum †Trichopitys

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.

External links

• "Ginkgoopsida". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• "Ginkgopsida". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• "Ginkgoales". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• "Ginkgoaceae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.