1.8" Detailed Fossil Plant Leafs Metasequoia Dawn Redwood Oligocene Age MT COA

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Fossil – Iconic “Living Fossil” Conifer
The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is one of the most celebrated examples of evolutionary survival in the plant kingdom. Originating more than 100 million years ago, this remarkable conifer thrived during the age of dinosaurs and formed extensive forests across the ancient Northern Hemisphere. For decades, Metasequoia was known only from fossil specimens and was considered extinct.

That perception changed dramatically in 1944, when living Dawn Redwoods were discovered in a remote region of central China, confirming that this ancient tree lineage had persisted through massive climatic and geological changes. Both fossil and modern Metasequoia share the unusual trait of being deciduous conifers, shedding their needles seasonally—an adaptation preserved from deep time.

Today, the Dawn Redwood is a fast-growing tree with a tall, symmetrical pyramidal shape, capable of reaching 120 feet in height, and is widely planted as an ornamental species. A Metasequoia fossil specimen is highly valued by fossil collectors, paleobotany enthusiasts, educators, and museums, offering a direct and tangible link between prehistoric forests and living landscapes, and illustrating one of nature’s most extraordinary botanical survivals.