The bark is somewhat soft and leathery, and on the trunk and branches assumes a singular tawny yellow or greyish color. The tree grows pretty rapidly, and forms an exceedingly neat, loose, conical, or tapering head. The timber is very solid and heavy; and the tree is said to grow to enormous size in its native country. Bunge, who accompanied the mission from Russia to Pekin, states that he saw near a Pagoda, an immense Ginko tree, with a trunk nearly forty feet in circumference, and still in full vigor of vegetation.* Although nearly related to the Pine tribe, and forming, apparently, the connecting link between the conifer� and exogenous trees, yet, unlike the former tribe, the wood of the tree is perfectly free from resin. (* Bull. de la Soc. d'Agr. du depart. de l'Herault. Arb. Brit.)
