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

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is one of the rarest examples of a living fossil, with a lineage that extends back over 100 million years to the Mesozoic Era. Fossil records show that Metasequoia once thrived across vast forests of Asia, Europe, and North America, dominating prehistoric landscapes long before humans existed.

For many years, this remarkable conifer was known only through fossil evidence and was thought to be extinct, earning it the nickname “fossil tree.” In 1944, living populations were discovered in central China, revealing that this ancient genus had survived dramatic climate shifts and geological events.

Metasequoia is a deciduous conifer, shedding its needles seasonally, a rare trait among cone-bearing trees. Today’s Dawn Redwoods are fast-growing, forming a tall, straight trunk with a graceful pyramidal canopy, and can reach up to 120 feet in height. Fossil specimens of Metasequoia offer a tangible connection to prehistoric forests and provide insight into the evolution, resilience, and distribution of ancient coniferous plants. This makes Metasequoia fossils highly valuable for collectors, educators, and museums seeking to explore Earth’s deep botanical history.