Ginkgos

Ginkgos are known today mainly as the deciduous Ginkgo biloba which is the sole-surviving member of what was once a common and diverse family of plants. There are many different ginkgos preserved in the fossil record including the four-fingered leaves of Baiera in the Triassic Knocklofty Formation.  Ginkgoites australis is another well-known species found in the Cretaceous fossil assemblages of southern Victoria.

Left, fossil gingko (needle-like leaves) Baiera temnifolia with seed fern Pachypteris from Hobart, Tasmania (Z350 TMAG/UTAS); Right, leaves of modern Gingko biloba.