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

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is an extraordinary living fossil tree with origins dating back to the Mesozoic Era, coexisting with dinosaurs and forming vast prehistoric forests. Fossil evidence shows that Metasequoia thrived across North America, Europe, and Asia, adapting to warm and humid climates over millions of years.

For much of modern history, it was known only from fossil remains and believed extinct, earning the nickname “fossil tree.” That changed in 1944, when living specimens were discovered in central China, confirming the survival of this ancient genus. Both fossil and living trees are deciduous conifers, shedding needles seasonally—a rare feature among cone-bearing trees.

Today, the Dawn Redwood grows rapidly, forming a tall, pyramidal canopy with straight trunks that can reach 120 feet. Fossil specimens provide an invaluable connection to prehistoric forests, ancient ecosystems, and plant evolution, making them highly prized by fossil collectors, educators, paleobotany enthusiasts, and museums. Metasequoia fossils offer a tangible glimpse into the resilience and continuity of plant life across geological time.