Metasequoia glyptostroboides aka Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also known as the dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, deciduous conifer that can grow up to 167 ft (51 m) in height. It is the only living species in the genus Metasequoia, which is part of the subfamily Sequoioideae in the family Cupressaceae. The tree is native to wet lower slopes and montane river and stream valleys in the border region of Hubei and Hunan provinces and Chongqing municipality in south-central China, particularly in Lichuan county in Hubei. It is a living fossil species that was first reported by paleobotanist Shigeru Miki in 1941 based on fossils, and later discovered growing in the wild near the town of Modaoqi, China by Chinese forester T. Kan. The dawn redwood is closely related to bald cypress (Taxodium) and redwood (Sequoia) and has linear, feathery, fern-like foliage that emerges light green in spring, matures to deep green in summer, and turns red-bronze in fall. Trees are monoecious, producing oval, light brown female cones (3/4” long) and pendant globose male cones (1/2” long). The tree prefers moist, deep, well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. The trunk of the tree broadens at the base and develops attractive and sometimes elaborate fluting, while the bark on mature trees is often deeply fissured. The dawn redwood is a popular and fast-growing ornamental plant that has been widely planted in arboreta worldwide. However, the tree faces considerable risks of extinction in its wild range due to deforestation. Despite its endangered status, it is a particularly well-known example of a living fossil species, which, if discovered later, might have become extinct before being investigated. The Missouri Botanical Garden has played a significant role in preserving the species, having received seeds collected from the original site in 1947 and grown seedlings that were planted in front of the Lehmann Building at MBG in 1952, where they have now developed into large mature trees (70’+ tall).