0.7" Rare Fossil Pistillate Cone Metasequoia Dawn Redwood Oligocene Age MT COA

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is a prehistoric deciduous conifer with a lineage tracing back to the Mesozoic Era. Once widespread across North America, Europe, and Asia, it formed dense forests that coexisted with dinosaurs.

Known only through fossils for decades, Metasequoia was considered extinct until living specimens were discovered in central China in 1944, confirming its status as a living fossil. Both fossil and modern trees share the rare trait of being deciduous conifers, shedding needles seasonally.

Modern Dawn Redwoods grow rapidly, reaching heights of up to 120 feet, with straight trunks and elegant pyramidal crowns. Fossil specimens provide key insights into prehistoric ecosystems, plant evolution, and paleoecology, making them highly valuable to collectors, educators, and museum displays. They offer a tangible link between ancient forests and today’s living landscapes, illustrating the endurance of this remarkable genus through millions of years.