Ginkgoaceae

Ginkgoaceae Temporal range: Jurassic–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Jurassic Ginkgo leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Ginkgophyta
Class:	Ginkgoopsida
Order:	Ginkgoales
Family:	Ginkgoaceae Adans.
Genera
†Baieroxylon †Cheirophyllum †Chiropteris Ginkgo †Ginkgoites †Ginkgoïdium †Ginkgopitys †Phoenicpsis †Polyspermophyllum †Trichopitys

†Baieroxylon
†Cheirophyllum
†Chiropteris
Ginkgo
†Ginkgoites
†Ginkgoïdium
†Ginkgopitys
†Phoenicpsis
†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.