This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Ginkgo biloba L. (Ginkgo, Maidenhair tree) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the International Biological Flora: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, reproductive and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, conservation and global heterogeneity. Globally, Ginkgo survives a wide range of mean annual temperature (−3.3 to 23.3°C) and annual precipitation (34–3925 mm) conditions, according to a meta‐analysis. It prefers a warm, humid, open‐canopy and a well‐drained environment. The species shows strong tolerance to drought, freezing, fire, air pollution, heavy metals and low‐level salt, whereas it is intolerant to long‐time shade and waterlogging. Six Ginkgo trees even survived the atom bomb in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War II. Ginkgo is susceptible to few diseases. Those occurring in nursery seedlings and juvenile trees involve stem rot and leaf blight. The former is caused by Macrophomina phaseoli, which could lead to a mortality rate of 5%–12% (up to 31.8%) for seedlings. This disease can be mitigated by a 4‐h shading treatment and applying organic fertilisers. The pathogens inducing leaf blight include Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Pestalotia ginkgo, which may infect 100% juvenile trees in some regions. The application of 45% carbendazim or 50% Tuzet can effectively prevent leaf blight. Ginkgo biloba is one of the world’s most distinctive trees with an important position in plant evolution and human society. It is a tall deciduous dioecious tree native to China. Refugial populations were identified in three glacial refugia located in eastern, southern and south‐western China, respectively, with a patchy distribution pattern and a small population size. It typically grows along flood‐disturbed streamsides in warm‐temperate deciduous (and evergreen mixed) broadleaved forests. Ginkgo may have been introduced repeatedly out of China since the sixth century. It has been planted as a landscape tree world‐wide, except in Antarctica. Ginkgo is also of great value for edible nuts, herbal medicine, religion and art. It is a natural and cultural symbol of China. 摘要 本文系统总结了活化石树种银杏(Ginkgo biloba L.)的生物学和生态学特性。根据本刊“国际生物学植物志”的标准框架，我们从以下十一个方面进行了全面描述:分布、生境、群落、生物响应、环境响应、结构与生理、物候、繁殖和种子特征、植食动物与疾病、进化历史、保护、全球异质性。 银杏具有突出的环境适应性和抗逆性。荟萃分析表明，银杏可适应变异范围极广的年均温(−3.3 至 23.3 °C)和年降水量(34至3925 mm)环境，但喜温暖、湿润、郁闭度低、排水状况良好的生境。银杏对干旱、霜冻、火、大气污染、重金属和低浓度的盐分具较强的耐受性，但不耐受长时间荫蔽和水淹。日本广岛市的六株银杏甚至经历第二次世界大战原子弹轰炸后仍存活至今。 银杏也具很强的抗病性。大树病害极少，在幼苗和幼树中仅发现茎腐病和叶枯病。茎腐病由菜豆壳球孢(Macrophomina phaseoli)引起，幼苗致死率为5%–12%(最高达31.8%)，4小时遮荫处理外加施用有机肥可有效减轻症状。叶枯病的病原菌包括链格孢(Alternaria alternata)、盘长孢状刺盘孢(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)和银杏盘多毛孢(Pestalotia ginkgo)。某些地区幼树的叶枯病发病率可达100%，但喷洒45%多菌灵或50%退菌特可有效预防叶枯病。 作为全世界最独特的树种之一，银杏在植物进化和人类社会中扮演着重要角色。这种高大落叶乔木雌雄异株，原产中国，共有三处冰期避难所，分别位于华东、西南和华南。避难所种群分布零散，且种群大小较小。在暖温带落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林中，常分布于沟谷两侧。自公元六世纪以来，银杏不断被引种至中国之外的世界各地，作为一种景观树种，目前银杏被栽培于除南极洲外的其余六大洲。它还具有很高的食用、药用、宗教和艺术价值。银杏是中国的自然和文化符号之一。 The living fossil Ginkgo biloba is one of the world’s most distinctive trees with an important position in plant evolution and human society. It is a tall deciduous dioecious tree with masses of golden fan‐shaped leaves in autumn. It grows world‐wide except in Antarctica and even survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The extreme longevity of over 1000 years results in part from its prominent tolerance and resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses as well as from outstanding regeneration potential due to sprouts, suckers or air roots. Refugial and natural populations still persist along flood‐disturbed streamsides in subtropical China.