Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree, Gingko, Ginko, Ginkgo Biloba)

Feed Sparingly

Common Name: Ginkgo (Maidenhair Tree, Gingko, Ginko, Ginkgo Biloba)
Latin Name: Ginkgo biloba; syn. Salisburia adiantifolia
Family Name: Ginkgoaceae

This magnificent tree with its fan-shaped leaves is classified as a living fossil, having been in existence for over 270 million years and with no living relatives. It is extensively used as a food source (the nuts) and in medicine (extracts from the leaves, which contain glycosides and terpinoids) to treat dementia and enhance memory, concentration, and blood circulation.

It would be unwise to feed the seeds to your tortoise (because they will be high in protein), or the leaves in any great quantity, but if a few leaves fall into the tortoise enclosure and are eaten then there should be nothing to worry about.