1.6" Rare Fossil Pistillate Cone Metasequoia Dawn Redwood Oligocene Age MT COA
Location: Muddy Creek Formation, Beaverhead County, Montana
Weight: 3.5 Ounces
Dimensions: 3.7 Inches Long, 3.3 Inches Wide, 0.4 Inches Thick (Plate)
Cone And Stem Dimensions: 1.6 Inches Long, 0.5 Inches Wide
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is one of the most remarkable examples of a living fossil tree, with a lineage dating back to the age of dinosaurs. Fossil records reveal that Metasequoia once dominated prehistoric forests across Asia, Europe, and North America, thriving in warm, humid climates long before humans existed.
For decades, the genus was known only from fossil specimens and thought to be extinct, earning it the nickname “fossil tree.” That perception changed in 1944, when living Dawn Redwoods were discovered in central China, confirming the survival of this ancient conifer. Fossil and living trees share a rare trait among conifers: they are deciduous, shedding their soft needles each year.
Today, the Dawn Redwood is a fast-growing ornamental tree with a tall, straight trunk and a graceful pyramidal crown, reaching heights of up to 120 feet. Fossil Metasequoia specimens offer a tangible connection to prehistoric forests, ancient climates, and plant evolution, making them highly valued by fossil collectors, paleobotany enthusiasts, educators, and museums. These fossils provide a unique glimpse into the resilience and continuity of plant life across millions of years.
