Question

Which one of the following has not changed for the last several thousand years?
A. Dryopteris
B. Gnetum
C. Ginkgo
D. Palms

Answer 1

It is also known as maidenhair. It is the oldest living fossil and can be found in China, Korea, Japan, US, etc. It is a medicinal plant and has many health benefits. It has not been affected by any change for thousands of years.

Complete answer: Ginkgo biloba, or maidenhair, is a tree native to China that has been grown for thousands of years. It is one of the oldest living species dating back more than 200 million years. It is often referred to as the living fossil. Since its leaves resemble the maidenhair fern, it is also known as the maidenhair tree. It exhibits many health benefits such as:
1. Contain powerful antioxidants.
2. Helps to fight inflammation.
3. Improves circulation and heart health.
4. Reduces symptoms of dementia and psychiatric diseases.
5. Improves brain function and well being.
6. Reduces anxiety.
i. Dryopteris is also known as wood ferns. Many of the species have stout, slowly creeping rootstocks that form a crown, with a vase-like ring of fronds. It is distributed in Asia, Europe, America and Africa.
ii. Gnetum is a gymnosperm. They are tropical evergreen trees, shrubs and lianas. Unlike other gymnosperms, they possess vessel elements in the xylem.
Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Note: The ginkgo leaf contains many active ingredients, including flavonol and flavone glycosides, diterpene lactones, ginkgolides, sesquiterpenes, iron-based superoxide dismutase, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, ascorbic acid, and catechin.