Ginkgo
Ginkgo trees are living legends endemic to China. Some grow to more than 165 feet (50 meters) and live for centuries. The leaf extract has long been used to treat a variety of ailments and conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, dementia, poor circulation, and ringing in the ears. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginkgo has the power to fix imbalances of yin and yang in the human body. Scientific studies on its chemical merits, however, are inconclusive. One proven feature of ginkgo is a high tolerance to air pollution. The female trees have orange-tinged, fruitlike seeds that are edible when roasted, but in autumn they fall to the ground, creating enormous, sour bogs. (Ginkgo biloba)
Photograph by David Allen Harvey
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