Ginkgoales

Ginkgoales are a gymnosperm order containing only one extant species: Ginkgo biloba, the ginkgo tree. The order has a long fossil record extending back to the Early Permian around 300 million years ago from fossils found worldwide. The order was a common component of Permian and Triassic flora before the super dominance of conifers.

== Evolution == Ginkgophyta and Cycadophyta have a very ancient divergence dating to the early Carboniferous. The earliest representative of the group in the fossil record is probably Trichopitys from the Asselian (299-293 million years ago) of France. The earliest representatives of Ginkgo, represented by reproductive organs similar to the living species, first appear in the Middle Jurassic, alongside other, related forms such as Yimaia and Karkenia, which have differently arranged reproductive structures and seeds associated with Ginkgo-like leaves. The diversity of Ginkgoales declined during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, coincident with the rise of flowering plants, with all Ginkgophytes aside from Ginkgo being extinct by the end of the Cretaceous. The only remaining Ginkgophyte was Ginkgo adiantoides – a polymorphic species. Modern Ginkgo trees are native to China.