Fertilization:
Fertilization takes place once the male and female haploid (n) reproductive cells (seeds and pollen) come together. Shortly after fertilization occurs the diploid (2n) zygote begins to grow. After many, many cells divide and grow (through the process of mitosis) the tree reaches maturity and it produces its own haploid reproductive cells. This is through the process called meiosis. As I stated before though, Ginkgo biloba is a dioecious species meaning that only mature male plants can produce pollen and only mature female plants can produce seeds. Each tree is either male or female, not both. The pollen then meets up with the seed again and the cycle continues. The diagram above helps to illustrate this cycle.