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

The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is an iconic fossil tree genus that dates back to the Mesozoic Era, making it a true living fossil. Fossil evidence shows that Metasequoia once formed vast forests across North America, Europe, and Asia, thriving in warm, humid climates alongside dinosaurs.

Long believed extinct and known only through fossilized leaves, cones, and wood, Metasequoia astonished scientists when living trees were discovered in central China in 1944. This rediscovery confirmed that the genus had survived millions of years of climate change and geological upheavals.

A deciduous conifer, Metasequoia sheds its soft needles seasonally, a rare characteristic among ancient cone-bearing trees. Modern Dawn Redwoods grow rapidly into tall, straight trunks with elegant pyramidal crowns, reaching heights of up to 120 feet. Fossil specimens provide a tangible connection to prehistoric ecosystems and offer unique insights into plant evolution, paleoecology, and the continuity of ancient forests, making them highly sought after by collectors, educators, and museums.