Dawn redwood

Dawn Redwood

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Pinophyta

Class: Pinopsida

Order: Pinales

Family: Cupressaceae

Genus: Metasequoia

Species: glyptostroboides

Binomial name

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a fast growing tree in the gymnosperm Family Cupressaceae native to the Sichuan-Hubei region of China. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Metasequoia.

Before 1944, Metasequoia was only known as a fossil from the Mesozoic Era, but in 1945 a small stand was discovered in China. In 1947 the Arnold Arobretum sent an expedition to collect seeds and, soon after, seedling trees were distributed to various universities and arboreta for growth trials.

While the bark and foliage are similar to other redwoods, Metasequoia differs in that it is deciduous like the Bald cypress (Taxodium), and older specimens form wide buttresses on the lower trunk.