Genus name comes from the Greek words metra meaning with, after, sharing, or changed in nature and Sequoia to which it is related and to which fossil specimens were first referred. 4 There are found three trees, the largest of which is 33 meters (108 feet) in height and 3.3 meters (10 feet) in diameter at the swelling buttress and 2 meters (6.6 feet) in diameter at breast height the other two are small trees. The twigs, needles and cone scales are in opposite pairs. Face of cone scales with a distinct notch all the way across between the bract portion and the seed scale portion, mostly 8-15 mm wide, 2-4 mm high. Metasequoia was first discovered at Mou-tao-chi of Wan Hsien in Szechuan province. Trees are monoecious, producing oval, light brown female cones (3/4” long) and pendant globose male cones (1/2” long). Foliage emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer and turns red-bronze in fall. Metasequoia glyptostroboides - Growing Guide Deciduous Leaves are 2cm (¾in) or more on seedlings, to 1.5cm (½in) long on mature trees. It is the sole living species of the genus Metasequoia. In 1948, this tree, still healthy and holding seed-filled cones, was estimated to be 450 years old. Metasequoia glyptostroboides, the dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, endangered deciduous conifer. Soft light green leaves especially in spring Further Reading. Local villagers believed the tree to be the home of God. Foilage The leaves of the Dawn Redwood are typically between 0.4 and 1.25 inches (13 cm) long, and bright fresh green, turning a foxy red-brown in the fall. It features linear, feathery, fern-like foliage that is soft to the touch. Conical tree with ascending branches and fibrous orange bark which prefers a boggy or wet area.

Bark on mature trees is often deeply fissured. As the tree matures, the trunk broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting. Seedlings grown therefrom were planted in front of the Lehmann Building at MBG in 1952 where they have now developed into large mature trees (70’+ tall). Seeds collected from the original site were made available to the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1947. However, it was not until 1941 that it was first discovered growing in the wild near the town of Modaoqi, China by Chinese forester, T. Trees to 50 m tall trunk buttressed at base, to 2.5 m d.b.h. From fossil records, dawn redwood is known to have existed as many as 50,000,000 years ago. It is related to and closely resembles bald cypress ( Taxodium) and redwood ( Sequoia). Metasequoia glyptostroboides, commonly called dawn redwood, is a deciduous, coniferous tree that grows in a conical shape to 100’ tall. Pollen cones developing in autumn but not shedding pollen until following spring, borne in spikes or panicles, shortly pedunculate microsporophylls 15-20.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides cone