This photo was taken on a visit to Japan last year.
Compared to the Mt Read, Tasmania stand of Huon pine whose organism is estimated to have existed for 10,500 years this ancient gingko is but a child. Yet this 1200 year old tree stands as a designated natural monument in Takayama, Japan with a shrine located nearby.
The tree has a circumference of 10 metres and stands 28 metres high. When its leaves fall it's said that snow will soon fall, so the tree also marks the changing seasons.
The Mt Read stand is located in Rosebery in north-western Tasmania and is reputed to be the world's oldest "clonal" tree, having reproduced itself over an area that is over a hectare in size. It was discovered in 1995 by Mike Peterson, a forestry worker.