Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Dawn redwood foliage - note opposite arrangement




 

Pollen bearing cones




 

Young leaves




 

Young seed bearing cones




 

Mature seed bearing cones




 

Mature tree



Metasequoia glyptostroboides leaves are opposite, 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long, and bright fresh green, turning a foxy reddish brown in fall. The pollen cones are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, produced on long spikes in early spring; they are produced only on trees growing in regions with hot summers. The cones are globose to ovoid, 1.5–2.5 cm (0.59–0.98 in) in diameter with 16-28 scales arranged in opposite pairs in four rows, each pair at right angles to the adjacent pair; they mature in about 8–9 months after pollination.
While the bark and foliage are similar to another closely related genus of redwoods, Sequoia, M. glyptostroboides differs from the coast redwood in that it is deciduous, like Taxodium distichum (bald cypress). Similar to T. distichum, older trees may form wide buttresses on the lower trunk. M. glyptostroboides is a fast-growing tree, exceeding 35 m (115 ft) in height and 1 m (3.3 ft) in trunk diameter by the age of 50, in cultivation (with the potential to grow to even greater dimensions). The trunk forms a distinctive "armpit" under each branch. The bark is vertically fissured and tends to exfoliate in ribbon-like strips.
The largest dawn redwood recorded was an isolated specimen in China about 50 meters (165 feet) tall and 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) wide. This tree was killed by a lightning strike in 1951. Several dawn redwoods of this height still live in the eastern part of Metasequoia Valley, where the tree was discovered. The tree's true potential size is much larger, as logs up to 8 meters (26 feet) wide at the base have been discovered in rice paddies.
The thickest and tallest dawn redwoods listed by Monumental Trees are both in the Longwood Gardens of Kennett Square in Pennsylvania, United States. The widest has a girth at breast height of 5.79 m (19 ft, average diameter 1.84 m, 6 ft), and is 30.18 m (99 ft) tall. The tallest is 41.15 m (135 ft) tall, and has a girth at breast height of 3.35 m (11 ft, average diameter 1.07 m, 3.5 ft). Both trees were planted in 1948 and measured in 2018.
Ecotypic variationEdit
Ecotypic variation has developed in a variety of microhabitats. Three variations have been observed based on the size of their cones, large, medium, and small. The large cone type is found growing on mountain slopes, develops a broad canopy, seeds more readily and is more drought tolerant. The small cone type is found near stream banks is more sensitive to drought and develops a more uniform trunk.
Ecological Type
Large cone
Medium cone
Small cone
Growth Rate
fast
medium
slow
Ecological preference
mountain slope, drought tolerant
mountain slope, medium drought tolerance
ditches and creeks, drought intolerant
Bark Thickness
Thick
Medium
Thin
Bark Color
Gray
Brownish gray
Brown
Stem Furrow
distinct
very distinct
indistinct
Leaf Color
yellowish green
green
dark green
Leaf Density
low
medium
high
Branch Canopy
wide
medium
narrow
Branch Distribution
sparse
medium
dense
Branch Angle
>90
medium
<50
Cone Size
2.2 x 2.0 cm
2.0 x 1.8 cm
1.5 x 1.4 cm
Number of seeds per 500 grams
128
161
280
Number of seeds per cone
106
85
62
Seed size
0.6 x 0.5 cm
0.53 x 0.48 cm
0.48 x 0.42 cm
Weight per 100 grams of seed
2.96
2.84
2.40
Seed germination rate (%)
15
21
18

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Metasequoia Glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

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