Fauna
Plant

Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Also known as Metasequoia, Water Fir, Shui-sha

Known only from prehistoric fossils until its dramatic rediscovery in 1943, Dawn Redwood is a true living fossil that once spanned much of the Northern Hemisphere. Soft feathery foliage turns a bright copper-orange each autumn before shedding entirely, revealing a deeply fluted trunk clad in fibrous reddish bark. Wild stands survive only in wet montane valleys in south-central China, though cultivated trees are now widely planted in parks worldwide.

Deciduous ConiferLiving Fossil
Dawn Redwood reference1 / 7
(c) W Rao, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W Rao · cc-by
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EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
ThreatsHistoric deforestation, habitat fragmentation, small wild population size
HabitatsMontane river valleys, stream banks, wet lower slopes, cultivated parks
Life span300–600 years
Classification
  1. OrderPinales
  2. FamilyCupressaceae
  3. GenusMetasequoia
  4. SpeciesMetasequoia glyptostroboides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for opposite-arranged feathery needles, small spherical cones, and a heavily buttressed base flare.
Support conservation
Observe wild specimens from established paths and refrain from collecting cones or damaging bark.
Responsible observation
  • Fall Color: Visit in late autumn to experience the bright copper and bronze foliage transformation.
  • Trunk Structure: Look closely at the trunk base for deep fluting and armpit-like depressions beneath lower branches.
Related species
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