We investigated the core germplasm of 40 individuals of native Metasequoia glyptostroboides and collected data on habitats, parent trees and seed traits. Unlike most cone-bearing trees, Dawn Redwood loses its foliage each winter. It features an upright, narrowly conical form that enhances many landscapes.

Pollination Feb-Mar, before leaves, seed maturity Oct-Nov. Abstract: In order to explore the reproductive characteristics of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, we explored a native population of original Metasequoia glyptostroboides. A sight to behold, Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood) is a large deciduous coniferous tree of great beauty. The branches are wide -spreading, ascending at the tip. Seed cones purplish black when young, oblong-ellipsoid and to 9 × 5.5 mm at pollination, subglobose and 1.4-2.5 × 1.6-2.3 cm when mature basal cone scales 9-ovulate, middle 7-ovulate, distal 5-ovulate, apical sterile. Keywords/Tags: Cupressaceae, tree, conifer, cone, needle, deciduous, dawn redwood Whole plant/Habit: Description: Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a pyramidal tree with a strong central leader. 4 × 3 mm, lowest minutely ciliate distally, others glabrous. The cones are globose to ovoid, 1.52.5 cm 0.590.98 in in diameter with 16-28 scales arranged in opposite pairs in four rows, used to refer to every one of two. Pollen cones ovoid, 2.5-5.5 × 2-3.8 mm bracts triangular-ovate or obovate, ca. In most Cupressaceae, the shoot subtending the ovule the so called seed scale can no longer be detected. In these proliferated Metasequoia seed cones several cone scales carried axillary, leafy short shoots instead of ovules. Leaves borne at 45-60° to branchlet axis, 2-5 mm apart, bluish green or yellowish green adaxially, paler abaxially, turning orange or red in autumn, linear, 0.8-1.5 cm × 1.2-2 mm on old trees but longer on younger trees, stomatal hands 0.4-0.6 mm, indistinct, marginal bands 0.5-0.6 mm wide, apex obtuse or with hyaline mucro, more sharply acute on leaves of leader branchlets. A correct interpretation might allow a new hypothesis about the evolution of seed cones and ovules in conifers. Lateral branchlets deciduous, opposite, each subtended by leaflike scale, with longer and shorter leaves alternating irregularly, forming an ovate-elliptic outline 3-7 × 1.5-4 cm. bark of young trees pale orange-brown with darker flakes and exfoliating, finally dark reddish brown to gray, fissured crown narrowly conical or pyramidal, finally broadly conical branches ascending branchlets pendulous, axis pinkish green or pale purple in 1st year, later brownish gray winter buds to 5 × 3 mm, apex obtuse, scales yellowish brown, ca.

Trees to 50 m tall trunk buttressed at base, to 2.5 m d.b.h.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides cone