249 



Genus GINKGO, K^mpfcr. 



>[Am(Enitateni exotioarum, p. 811, 1712. Linnffius, ilautissa Plantarum, 

 p. 313, 1771.] 



1. Ginkgo digitata (Brongniart). 

 S. Ginkgo whitbiensis, Nathorst. 



The maidenhair - tree was first described tinder the name 

 Ginkgo by Ksempfcr in 1712;' this author published a drawing 

 ■of a shoot and ovule, and spoke of the plant as Ginkgo or Gman, 

 vulgo Itsjo: "arbor nucifera folio adiantino." Linnseus adopted 

 Ksempfer's designation, and referred to the plant as Ginkgo hiloba. 

 In 1797 Smith'' placed this species among the Conifers; he 

 proposed the generic name Salishuria and a new specific designation 

 ■aiiantifolia in place of the "uncouth name Gingko and the 

 incorrect specific term biloba." Since 1797 the names Ginkgo 

 biloha and Salishuria adiantifolia have both remained in common 

 use. Among the numerous references to Gingko in the literature 

 ■of the present century we find several records of the development 

 ■of both male and female flowers in trees grown at Montpelier, 

 Vienna, Kew, and elsewhere. By Eichard, Endlioher, and several 

 ■other authors, Ginkgo has been placed in the family Taxinese ; 

 but Eichler, in an important contribution to Martins' Flora 

 Brasiliensis, proposed to include the genus in a separate tribe, the 

 Salisburyese.' In 1840 Zuccarini* called attention to the resem- 

 blance of the young leaves of Ginkgo to those of the African 

 Cyoad Enoepliala/rtos horridus, and instituted a comparison between 

 the short shoots of the maidenhair - tree and the main stem of 

 Cycads. During the past few decades new facts have gradually 

 been brought to light demonstrating other and more important 

 resemblances between Ginkgo and the Cycads, and finally the 

 ■discovery of motile spermatozoids in both Cycads and Ginkgo 



1 Kaempfer (1712), p. 811. A more complete historical sketch of G'mlcgo is 

 given in a recent paper hy Miss Gowaii and myself : -side Seward & Gowan 

 <002), p. 111. 



2 Smith (1797). 

 ' Eichler (.52). 



Zuccarini (40). 



