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The ginkgo tree, already distinguished for its medicinal properties and ancient history, has another claim to fame. Its cells are home to an alga, a guest no other tree is known to host. Moreover, this interloper exists in ginkgo trees throughout the world, suggesting a long-standing, albeit enigmatic, partnership.
A common ornamental tree planted along sidewalks and in gardens throughout the world, Ginkgo biloba—also called the maidenhair tree—has been considered a source of herbal medicine for millennia. During the 1990s, several studies showed the extracts helped improve memory in patients with dementia (ScienceNOW, 30 May). And today, ginkgo is a popular remedy sold not just for memory loss but also for ailments ranging from depression to hemorrhoids.
Read the rest at ScienceNOW.