Abstract: Ginkgo biloba L. has often been called a living fossil. Significant variations are often seen in its leaf form and structure of the epidermal layer and the morphological differences between the upper and lower layer. In the upper epidermal layer, the cells are rather orderly arranged in the appearance of a smooth surface. However, the cells of the lower layer are very irregularly arranged. The cell wall projects in various directions and is wrinkled. The stomata in the upper layer are rare and are restricted to the base of the leaf blade, for which they are often neglected. However, in some incidences, they are present only in the lower layer. The guard cells are deeply caved in by the surrounding 4—7 subsidiary cells, the upper part of which projects and covers the stoma. In the lower layer, two stomata, or occasionally three, that set close to each other might be observed. These phenomena are scarcely seen in other seed plants.

Key words: Ginkgo biloba L., Epidermis, Stoma