The question of whether the Ginkgo biloba tree produces flowers is common. The simple answer is no; the ginkgo tree does not bear true flowers in the way that roses, oaks, or apple trees do. This ancient species, often called the maidenhair tree, represents a unique branch on the plant evolutionary tree, offering a direct look into how seed-bearing plants reproduced. Its reproductive strategy utilizes separate, simple structures that create seeds without the complex, colorful organs typically associated with a flower.
Ginkgo’s Ancient Lineage and Classification
The ginkgo tree’s classification explains why it lacks true flowers. Modern seed-bearing plants are grouped into two major categories: Angiosperms and Gymnosperms. Angiosperms are the flowering plants, where the ovule and subsequent seed are enclosed within an ovary that develops into a fruit.
The ginkgo belongs to the Gymnosperms, a more ancient group whose name translates to “naked seeds.” Unlike Angiosperms, the ginkgo’s seeds are not protected by an enclosing fruit wall or ovary. Ginkgo biloba is the sole surviving species in its division, Ginkgophyta, making it a “living fossil” with a lineage dating back over 270 million years. Its reproductive methods predate the evolution of the flower by millions of years.
Reproductive Structures: What They Have Instead of Flowers
The ginkgo’s reproductive parts are simple, specialized structures that appear on separate male and female trees, a condition known as dioecious. Male trees develop small, catkin-like structures, technically microstrobili or pollen cones, appearing in clusters on short spur branches. These male cones release vast amounts of windborne pollen, which is carried by air currents rather than insects.
Female trees produce ovuliferous structures, which are paired ovules found at the end of long stalks. Typically, only one of the two ovules on a stalk develops into a mature seed after pollination. The female structure lacks the ovary, petals, and sepals that define a true flower, reflecting its primitive evolutionary status. When mature, these ovules are ready to receive the wind-carried pollen.
The Practical Difference: Male Versus Female Trees
The difference between the sexes becomes most apparent in the autumn. After the female ovule is fertilized, it develops into a seed encased by a fleshy, yellowish-orange outer layer called the sarcotesta. Its appearance is often described as plum- or apricot-like.
As this fleshy layer ripens and falls, it decomposes and releases a potent, unpleasant odor. The distinctive stench is caused by butyric acid, a chemical compound also found in rancid butter and vomit. This smell was likely an adaptation to attract ancient animals for seed dispersal. Consequently, city planners and landscapers prefer to plant male ginkgo trees, which only produce pollen and do not create the messy, odorous seeds.