Some time ago, there was talk of possibly removing the Ginkgo trees in our community. Of course, this is understandable because although they are beautiful, they have fruits that release an awful odor into the air. To many, the scent is unbearable and makes an already troublesome commute even more irksome. They could even make a trip to the park with your family unpleasant, if you’re near them. However, in defense of these underappreciated trees, it’s important that we know that not every Ginkgo produces these stinky berries and they do serve a purpose in our community.
From an aesthetic perspective, the Ginkgo trees are extremely beautiful. Their leaves aren’t like the typical leaves you imagine any tree having. They aren’t shaped like ferns nor are they shaped like sugar maple leaves. These trees have fan-shaped leaves that have much “rounder” edges than your typical tree leaves. They stand out and add to the variety of colors we see plants with in autumn. As their leaves go from green to yellow, some people are reminded of the simple joys in life and occasionally decide to take the longer stroll through the park to engage with nature, as well as destress.
From a nature conservationist perspective, these trees are endangered and while their berries smell, it may be helpful to know that it’s only the female Ginkgos producing them. However, that doesn’t mean we should cut down every female Ginkgo in the area, but rather we should try to come up with a method to decrease the amount of Ginkgo seeds we have in certain areas -like the ones that regularly have high concentrations of people passing through. Perhaps we should place more female Ginkgos in areas such as botanical gardens, instead of by a schools or near train stations. At least that way when they are exposed to people, it would be people who are more willing to tolerate their berries foul odor.
It just seems irrational to remove a plant species that contributes to not only the biodiversity in our local plant community, but to us as well. Despite the disgusting smell their berries emit, female Ginkgos’ berries can also be used to make medicines and foods. It could potentially be a good business if someone were to find a way to make something with the fruit that is appealing to a lot of people. Then, that money could eventually go back into the community and there would be less stinky berries on the ground for everyone to step on and smell. These, however, are simply ideas. It’s our choice to bring them to fruition.
Bibliography
https://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/gingko/gingko.html
“Maidenhair Tree Photos and Facts.” Arkive, www.arkive.org/maidenhair-tree/ginkgo-biloba/.