seeds of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Dawn Redwood

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, also called the Dawn redwood, is a conifer belonging to the family Cupressaceae. The conifer’s synonyms include Metasequoia glyptostroboides var. caespitodsa and Metasequoia glyptostroboides subsp. neopangaea. In addition to being the last surviving member of its genus, Metasequoia glyptostroboides is also the shortest of all redwoods. The origins of this plant species lie in South Central China in the Hunei and Hunan provinces. The threat of deforestation and the prospect of eventual extinction has led to a surge worldwide conservation efforts. Many countries are taking the initiative to plant the tree in their own arboreta. Metasequoia glyptostroboides takes up to 50 years to reach a height of 35 metres and achieve a one-metre trunk diameter. The tree can, however, grow much bigger when cultivated and consequently, granted the ideal conditions it needs to thrive. The tree is deciduous and tends to develop buttress roots in old age. The tree bark has plenty of vertical fissures and tends to shed its outer surface in strips that resemble ribbons. Cones take the appearance of spikes and have a length of 5 to 6 mm. Leaves, on the other hand, are opposite and change in colour from green to a brownish-red colour in autumn. A pleasant outcome of the worldwide conservation efforts was the realisation that Metasequoia glyptostroboides was an impressive ornamental plant. That realization has led to further cultivation, and now the tree can be found in many gardens and parks. An additional reason for the tree’s successful infiltration of the horticultural market is its versatility. The tree can grow in woodland and temperate regions as well as both on dry land and in standing water. Moreover, Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a fast grower, tolerant to the effects of pollution and can, therefore, fit in well in urban areas. Nevertheless, the plant is unable to survive in arid climates without being irrigated.