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

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is an ancient coniferous genus that originated during the age of dinosaurs, making it one of the most remarkable survivors in plant history. Closely related to the California redwoods, Metasequoia once flourished across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

For decades, this tree was known only from fossil records and was widely believed to be extinct. That belief changed in 1944, when living specimens were discovered in central China, earning Metasequoia its reputation as a true “living fossil.”

Unlike most conifers, the Dawn Redwood is deciduous, shedding its needles seasonally—a characteristic preserved from its prehistoric ancestors. Today, Metasequoia is a fast-growing ornamental tree, admired for its symmetrical pyramidal form and impressive stature, reaching heights of up to 120 feet. Fossil specimens of Metasequoia provide valuable insight into ancient forest ecosystems and the continuity of plant life through deep geological time.