Maidenhair (Champion Tree)
GPS Coordinates: 40.024612, -75.314133
The Maidenhair tree (Gingko biloba) is one of the oldest species of tree. The earliest leaf fossils date back to 270 million years ago. In 1998, the species was listed as "endangered" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The tree is referred to as a "living fossil" because it has no close relatives and is the only species in its genus. The ginkgo is known for its fan shaped leaves and pungent smelling fruit, but since all of Bryn Mawr's ginkgos all male, none of its trees drop fruit. This counters Haverford College鈥攚hose ginkgos are all female.