Introducing Trinity tree of the month - the Ginkgo
Posted on: 23 March 2023
This month we are featuring our two Ginkgo biloba trees, commonly known as Ginkgo which were planted in Library Square in 2019. The north side Ginkgo is 45cm wide and 9 metres tall while the south side tree is 47cm wide and almost 8 metres tall. When these trees are mature, they will store up to 4,954 kilograms of carbon.
These Ginkgos have big shoes to fill as they recently replaced our two iconic Oregon Maples. When removing one of the Oregon Maple trees due to safety concerns, Trinity’s Estates and Facilities team discovered a vaulted water chamber when the wheel of the cherry picker went through the old slate entrance. The chamber is about 40M3 and is believed to have been installed in preparation for the event of a fire. It still contained a large volume of water which was pumped out to the surrounding trees. Due to the archaeological importance of this area, it was surveyed to map out all identifiable features using ground penetrating radar and the holes had to be carefully prepared under the supervision of an archaeologist.
Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest singular trees we can grow. Ginkgos are part of the family Ginkgoacea which were dominant in the Mesozoic era and have only one species surviving. They are a species native to China and are sometimes called ‘silver apricot’ which aptly describes the fruit, which has a distinctive odour. It is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine as a delicacy. The species is very resilient, being resistant to disease, air pollution and fire. Amazingly, individuals growing within 1,500 m of the hypocentre of the atomic bomb blast in Hiroshima survived. It has a fossil record dating back at least 200 million years, with individuals that can live for over 1,000 years and has symbolic meaning for a number of faiths. This tree has exceptional autumn colour and is biologically unique. It is also an excellent example of conservation affected through cultivation. Unusually, this species is dioecious with separate male and female individuals, and after careful consideration Estates and Facilities decided to plant one of each sex. Interestingly, the trees can switch sex (male to female) when they become stressed, and the males can possess female appendages on certain branches.
The two Ginkgos were donated to Trinity as part of a larger gift from benefactor Michael Dobbs Higginson, and his family crest is engraved into the benches accompanying the trees. We have three other Ginkgo on campus: one at the Flat Iron and two smaller ones in the Provosts Courtyard. We hope you are enjoying the Ginkgo trees on campus!
Media Contact:
Katie Byrne | Public Affairs and Communications | katie.s.byrne@tcd.ie | +353 1 896 4168