Where was Ginkgo biloba formerly restricted in the wild?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Gymnosperm Pine cone and exposed seeds of the pinyon pine (*Pinus edulis*). Pinyon pines are gymnosperms and bear their edible seeds, known as pine nuts, in protective cones instead of fruit.

The Ginkgo biloba tree was once distributed nearly worldwide, but its natural range eventually shrank until it was restricted to a small area of China.1

For centuries, the plant was believed to be extinct in the wild, though this status is debated following the discovery of two populations in a province in eastern China. Some researchers suggest these remaining groves may have been originally planted by Chinese monks rather than representing truly wild, uncultivated groups. Regardless of its status in the wild, the species is not at risk of permanent loss due to its widespread cultivation as an ornamental tree.12