Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Metasequoia glyptostroboides, the dawn redwood, is a fast-growing, endangered deciduous conifer. It is the sole living species of the genus Metasequoia, one of three genera in the subfamily Sequoioideae of the family Cupressaceae. It now survives only in wet lower slopes and montane river and stream valleys in the border region of Hubei and Hunan provinces and Chongqing municipality in south-central China,[1] notably in Lichuan county in Hubei. Although the shortest of the redwoods, it can grow to 120 ft (37 m) in height.[2]

Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Metasequoia
Species:
M. glyptostroboides
Binomial name
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Hu and W.C.Cheng, 1948

In 1941, the genus Metasequoia was reported by paleobotanist Shigeru Miki as a widely distributed extinct genus based on fossils, before attracting considerable attention a few years later when small populations were found alive in central China. It is a particularly well-known example of a living fossil species. The tree faces considerable risks of extinction in its wild range due to deforestation, however it has been planted extensively in arboreta worldwide, where it has proved a popular and fast-growing ornamental plant. If the species had been discovered later, it might have become extinct before being investigated.[3]

History
Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn redwood) bonsai tree

Although it was commonly known from the fossil record from across the northern hemisphere, the dawn redwood was considered extinct until the mid-twentieth century. When the genus Metasequoia was first described in 1941, it was from Mesozoic Era fossils, none of which were less than 150 million years old. While studying fossil samples of the family Cupressaceae, Dr. Shigeru Miki from Kyoto University identified a divergent leaf form. He realized he had discovered a new genus, which he named Metasequoia, meaning "like a sequoia".[4]

In the same year, Kan Duo (Toh Kan, 1903-1961), professor of Forest Management, National Central University, Chongqing, (formerly Chungking) observed an enormous living specimen while performing a survey in Sichuan and Hubei provinces. Though unaware of Miki's new genus, he recognized the unique traits of the tree. Unfortunately, while he collected some plant material, he did not attempt to identify or publish his findings.[5] This tree formed part of a local shrine, where villagers called it Shui-shan 水杉 or "water fir".[6][7]

In 1943, Wang Zhan (Chan Wang, 1911–2000) of the National Bureau of Forest Research, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Chongqing, collected samples from an unidentified tree in the village of Moudao (谋道镇; formerly Motaochi, Maodaoqi or Modaoxi)[8][9] in Lichuan County, Hubei province—now believed to be the same tree Kan discovered.[10] The samples were determined to belong to a tree yet unknown to science, but World War II postponed further study.

Professors Zheng Wanjun (Cheng Wan-Chun) and Hu Xiansu (Hu Hsien-Hsu) made the pivotal connection between Miki's fossil genus and the living samples in 1946,[11] and provided the specific epithet "glyptostroboides", after its resemblance to the Chinese swamp cypress (Glyptostrobus).[12]

In July 1947, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University provided $250 to fund an expedition by Zheng Wanjun's assistant Hua Jingchan (Ching-Shan Hwa 1921- ) to collect seeds for the arboretum from the Metasequoia type tree in Moudao, and trees in the nearby Metasequoia Valley (Shuishaba Valley).[3][13] Hua's collecting trip returned with several kilos of seed that were distributed over the next few months for growth trials to Chinese institutions; the Arnold Arboretum, Missouri Botanic Garden, and elsewhere in the United States; botanic gardens at Kew, Edinburgh, and other locations in the United Kingdom; as well as botanic gardens in continental Europe and worldwide.[14] If Metasequoia had been discovered a bit later, it might have become extinct before being investigated.[3]

Description
  • 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.[15] Several dawn redwoods of this height still live in the eastern part of Metasequoia Valley, where the tree was discovered.[15][16] 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.[17]

Ecotypic variation

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.[18]

Ecological TypeLarge coneMedium coneSmall cone
Growth Ratefastmediumslow
Ecological preferencemountain slope, drought tolerantmountain slope, medium drought toleranceditches and creeks, drought intolerant
Bark ThicknessThickMediumThin
Bark ColorGrayBrownish grayBrown
Stem Furrowdistinctvery distinctindistinct
Leaf Coloryellowish greengreendark green
Leaf Densitylowmediumhigh
Branch Canopywidemediumnarrow
Branch Distributionsparsemediumdense
Branch Angle>90medium<50
Cone Size2.2 x 2.0 cm2.0 x 1.8 cm1.5 x 1.4 cm
Number of seeds per 500 grams128161280
Number of seeds per cone1068562
Seed size0.6 x 0.5 cm0.53 x 0.48 cm0.48 x 0.42 cm
Weight per 100 grams of seed2.962.842.40
Seed germination rate (%)152118

Together with Sequoia sempervirens (coast redwood) and Sequoiadendron giganteum (giant sequoia) of California, M. glyptostroboides is classified in the subfamily Sequoioideae of the family Cupressaceae. Although it is the only living species in its genus, three fossil species are known as well. The other Sequoioideae and several other genera have been transferred from the Taxodiaceae to the Cupressaceae based on DNA analysis.[19]

Conservation

Studies carried out between 2007 and 2009 counted 5,371 trees primarily in Lichuan, Hubei,[1][20][21] with much smaller groups in Shizhu, Chongqing and Longshan, Hunan.[1]

The floodplain of Metasequoia Valley in Hubei had already been turned to rice paddies by the time of the tree's discovery, but was once probably a more extensive dawn redwood forest. Such a forest would have been similar to bald cypress forests in the United States, with many similar species growing in association. Nearly 3,000 trunks were found in the floor of the valley, ranging from 2 meters (6.5 feet) to 8 meters (26 feet) wide at the base. Additionally, houses made of Metasequoia wood 200–300 years old still exist and probably date back to the original settlement of the valley.[16][1]

Since its discovery, the dawn redwood has become something of a national point of pride, and it is protected under Chinese law and also planted widely.[20] However, it is still listed as endangered in the wild.[22] Cutting of trees or branches is illegal, but the demand for seedlings drives cone collection to the point that natural reproduction is no longer occurring in the dawn redwood forest.[20] In addition, the landscape has been highly modified by human use, and a 1980 expedition found that the habitat has significantly degraded since the tree's discovery. Most of the other vegetation has been cut, and most of the area is no longer suitable ground for seedlings.[15] Between 1950 and 1980 several hundred were logged in Metasequoia Valley, some over 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide.[15][16]

A survey in the 2000s counted and measured all wild dawn redwoods. The remaining healthy trees range from 25 cm (10 in) to 1.65 m (5.4 ft) wide at breast height, 12–51 m (39.5-167.5 ft) in height, and estimated 41–265 years in age. The average size was 27 m (88.5 ft) tall and 0.45–0.9 m (1.5-3 ft) wide at breast height, with an estimated age of about 95 years. (The type tree, 2.48 m (8 ft) at breast height, was in poor health and therefore excluded from the study) No seedlings were found, and if they ever do appear it is legal to remove and transplant them.[1] The species will continue to live in yards, parks and on roadsides all over China, but the M. glyptostroboides forest ecosystem could disappear when its mature trees die.[1]

Cultivation

Since the tree's rediscovery, the dawn redwood has become a popular ornamental tree in parks and gardens worldwide.

Dawn redwood seed arrived at the Arnold Arboretum on January 5, 1948,[9] and was shipped to arboreta around the world soon after. By 1951, the species had entered the commercial horticultural trade in the US,[9] and following media excitement about the new discovery, including in the San Francisco Chronicle of March 25 1948,[9] sales soon took off.

Dawn redwood has proved an easy tree to grow in temperate regions, and is now widely planted as an ornamental tree. Planted trees have already reached at least up to 1.84 meters (6 feet) in diameter at breast height and 41.15 meters (135 feet) tall, despite being in cultivation for only 70 years. This rapid rate of growth has led to consideration for using the tree in forestry plantations. It has been discovered that M. glyptostroboides will thrive in standing water, much like bald cypress, and if left branched to the ground in full sun, will develop the large, contorted boles that have made it famous. Limbing or pruning at an early age will prohibit this formation later on.

In cultivation, M. glyptostroboides is hardy to USDA Zone 5, making it hardy down to lows of −25 °F (−32 °C). It is tolerant of soggy, waterlogged soils; in the wild it is adapted to growing on flood plains. Until it is established in a specific site, it is prone to drought and inadequate water availability. The dawn redwood is recommended for urban areas in the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast of North America, as its fast growth rate and tolerance for air pollution make it widely adaptable and able to thrive where other species might suffer. This species tends to struggle without irrigation in arid climates such as the American West unless planted directly on or adjacent to a body of water such as a pond or stream. This species is also highly susceptible to damage from contact with heavy amounts of winter de-icing salt.[23]

In the 1980s, it was discovered that many of the second-generation trees in cultivation suffered from inbreeding depression (extremely low genetic variability), which could lead to increased susceptibility to disease and reproductive failure. Many sources claim that the original 1947 seedlots came from as few as one tree; however, this has proven to be false. The original seeds did have a wide range of source trees, and the inbreeding depression is more likely to come from self-pollination by isolated trees. However, the total cultivated population still had less genetic variation than the wild ones, and more widespread seed-collecting expeditions in China in the 1990s sought to resolve this problem and restore genetic diversity to cultivated M. glyptostroboides.[24]

In China

Pizhou, Jiangsu has the longest dawn redwood avenue in the world. The avenue is approximately 60 km long with over one million trees.[25][26] The Water Forest in Xinghua, Jiangsu is named after the many dawn redwood trees found there in the park.

In the United Kingdom

The dawn redwood is frequently encountered across the UK. Growth has been fastest in the south-east, but it is believed the tree may have a longer future in the more humid western regions. The first dawn redwood to be planted out in the UK was at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. The seed was not from the Arnold expedition, but came to Cambridge directly. The Botanic Garden’s Annual Report for 1949 declares: ‘Seeds of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, sent by Dr Silow from China to Professor F T Brooks, germinated freely. Three of the seedlings have been planted out: one in the Yard at the back of the Range and two beside the Pond (now called the Lake).'[27] The tree on the south-west side of the Lake is still living, as at July 2019. Seed distributed in the 1940s to Hillier Gardens near Winchester, UK, have thrived and are now the emblem of the gardens.[28] The TROBI Champions are at Woking Park, Surrey: 22 m height by 144 cm d.b.h, Clare College, Cambridge: 21 m × 129 cm (planted 1949), and Wayford Woods, Somerset: 32 m × 99 cm.[29] Several cultivars are available providing a range of different foliage colours and textures. The cultivar ‘Golden Oji’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[30][31]

In the United States

Dawn redwoods thrive over a large, crescent-shaped region that encompasses the eastern and southern United States. Many institutions, such as the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, have fine specimens. The H. H. Hunnewell estate in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has two specimens (numbers 29 and 34) that date back to the initial distribution of seed by the Arnold Arboretum in 1949.[32] There is a small grove of dawn redwoods at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley, New York, including one tree which is claimed to be the world's largest by diameter.[33] The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has begun planting dawn redwoods on sidewalks throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Washington, D.C.'s Urban Forestry Division[34] has planted hundreds throughout that city, including all of the street trees in the 1800 block of Redwood Terrace, NW.[35] A dawn redwood grows outside of the Rosicrucian Research Library at Rosicrucian Park in San Jose, California, as a memorial to H. Spencer Lewis.[36] It was planted in 1950 from a seedling from the lot brought from China by Dr. Ralph Chaney,[37] and donated by an unnamed donor to H. Spencer Lewis's widow for this purpose.[36] In North Carolina, a private endeavor is working to create a Metasequioa reserve on 50 acres of uplands in the Sauratown Mountains.[38]

  • Displaying autumn foliage in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
  • The trunk of an adult tree
  • The buttressed base of the trunk.
  • Pollen (or "male") cones
  • A specimen at Croxteth Hall in Liverpool: summer foliage
  • Same specimen: autumn foliage
  • Dawn redwoods in Spokane, WA
  • Metasequoia glyptostroboides in Sagamihara Park
  • Contour of Metasequoia glyptostroboides
  • Metaseqoia glyptostroboides used as street trees in Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • Seeds

References
  1. Tang, Cindy Q; Yang, Yongchuan; Ohsawa, Masahiko; Momohara, Arata; Hara, Masatoshi; Cheng, Shaolin; Fan, Shenghou (2011). "Population structure of relict Metasequoia glyptostroboides and its habitat fragmentation and degradation in south-central China". Biological Conservation. 144: 279–289. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2010.09.003.
  2. Dirr, Michael A. (2009). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Champaign, IL: Stipes Publishing L.L.C. p. 748. ISBN 978-1-58874-868-3.
  3. "1947 Contract Collections of Metasequoia (dawn redwood)". Arnold Arboretum. Harvard University. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. Miki, Shigeru (1941). "On the change of flora in eastern Asia since Tertiary Period". Japanese Journal of Botany. 11: 237–303.
  5. Ma, Jinshuang (June 2003). "The Chronology of the "Living Fossil" Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): A Review (1943-2003)". Harvard Papers in Botany. 8 (1): 10.
  6. Bartholomew, Bruce; Boufford, David E.; Spongberg, Stephen A. (January 1983). "Metasequoia glyptostroboides—Its present status in central China". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 64 (1): 105–28. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.27404. JSTOR 43782567.
  7. This hanzi for "fir" is the same as the kanji for another species, Cryptomeria japonica, that is, sugi, Japanese cedar. sugi in Wolfgang Hadamitzky and Mark Spahn (2011), Japanese Kanji and Kana: A Complete Guide to the Japanese Writing System, Rutland, VT: Tuttle, p. 361, Kanji 2033.
  8. Ma, Jinshuang (June 2003). "The Chronology of the "Living Fossil" Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): A Review (1943-2003)". Harvard Papers in Botany. 8 (1): 9.
  9. Jonnes, Jill (2016), Urban forests: a natural history of trees and people in the American cityscape, Viking, p. 135–7, ISBN 9780670015665
  10. Ma, Jinshuang; Shao, Guofan (2003). "Rediscovery of the 'first collection' of the 'Living Fossil', Metasequoia glyptostroboides". Taxon. 52 (3): 585–8. doi:10.2307/3647458. JSTOR 3647458.
  11. Ma, Jinshuang (2003). "The chronology of the "living fossil" Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): A review (1943–2003)" (PDF). Harvard Papers in Botany. 8 (1): 9–18. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  12. "Crescent Ridge_History".
  13. Ma, Jinshuang (June 2003). "The Chronology of the "Living Fossil" Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): A Review (1943-2003)". Harvard Papers in Botany. 8 (1): 11.
  14. Ma, Jinshuang (June 2003). "The Chronology of the "Living Fossil" Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Taxodiaceae): A Review (1943-2003)". Harvard Papers in Botany. 8 (1): 11–12.
  15. Earle, Christopher J., ed. (2019). "Metasequoia glyptostroboides". The Gymnosperm Database. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  16. Bartholomew, Bruce; Boufford, David; Spongberg, Stephen (1998). "Metasequoia glyptostroboides-Its Status in Central China in 1980" (PDF). Arnoldia. 58: 47–52.
  17. "The thickest, tallest, and oldest dawn redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides)". www.monumentaltrees.com. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  18. Li, Jianhua (1998). "Metasequoia: An Overview of Its Phylogeny,Reproductive Biology, and Ecotypic Variation" (PDF). Arnoldia. 58: 54–59.
  19. Gadek, P.A.; Alpers, D.L.; Heslewood, M.M.; Quinn, C.J. (2000). "Relationships within Cupressaceae sensu lato: A combined morphological and molecular approach". American Journal of Botany. 87 (7): 1044–1057. doi:10.2307/2657004. JSTOR 2657004. PMID 10898782.
  20. "Revisiting the Dawn Redwoods" (PDF). Save-the-Redwoods League Bulletin: 8. Fall 1999. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  21. Langlois, Gaytha A. (2005). "A conservation plan for Metasequoia in China". In LePage, Ben A.; Williams, Christopher James; Yang, Hong (eds.). The geobiology and ecology of Metasequoia. Volume 22 of Topics in geobiology. Springer. p. 369. ISBN 1-4020-2631-5.
  22. Farjon, A. (2013). "Metasequoia glyptostroboides". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2013: e.T32317A2814244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32317A2814244.en. Listed as Endangered B1ab(iii,v), v3.1
  23. Dirr, M.A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL. (1453 p.)
  24. Payton, Greg (2010). "Conserving the Dawn Redwood: The Ex Situ Collection at the Dawes Arboretum" (PDF). Arnoldia. 68 (1): 26–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  25. The Creation of the Longest Avenue in The World Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Arboricultural Journal: The International Journal of Urban Forestry, 2013.
  26. The Longest Avenue Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, The Horticulturalist: The Journal of the Institute of Horticulture, 2013.
  27. "Dawn Redwood". Cambridge University Botanic Garden. 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  28. "Sir Harold Hillier Gardens". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  29. Johnson, O. (2011). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland.  p.111. Kew Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84246-452-6
  30. Royal Horticultural Society (2019). "Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Golden Oji'". RHS. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  31. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 64. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  32. Hayward, Allyson (1997). Private Pleasures-- Derived from Tradition. Dissertation. 2. pp. Appendix F, 3.
  33. "The Dawn Redwood". Bailey Arboretum. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  34. "DDOT Urban Forestry | ddot". ddot.dc.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  35. Kelly, John (21 April 2015). "The saddest little tree in downtown Washington bears a surprise". Washington Post.
  36. Campbell, Clara (March 1980). "Tree from the Dawn of Time". Rosicrucian Digest. 58 March 1980: 22.
  37. "Temple Echoes". Rosicrucian Digest. Vol 29 #5: 180. May 1951.
  38. Hanks, Doug (2005). "www.dawnredwood.org". Crescent Ridge Dawn Redwoods Preserve Website.

Further reading
  • He, Zican, Jianqiang Li, Qing Cai, Xiaodong Li, and Hongwen Huang. 2004. "Cytogenetic Studies on Metasequoia Glyptostroboides, a Living Fossil Species". Genetica. 122, no. 3: 269-276.
  • International Metasequoia Symposium, Ben A. LePage, Christopher J. Williams, and Hong Yang. The Geobiology and Ecology of Metasequoia. Topics in geobiology, v. 22. Dordrecht: Springer, 2005. ISBN 1-4020-2764-8
  • Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Metasequoia and Associated Plants, August 6–10, 2006, Metasequoia: Back from the Brink? An Update. Edited by Hong Yang and Leo J. Hickey. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Volume 48, Issue 2 31 October 2007, pp. 179–426.
  • Bartholomew, Bruce, D. E. Boufford, and S. A. Spongberg. "Metasequoia glyptostroboides--Its present status in central China." Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 64.1 (1983): 105-128.
  • Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4.
  • Hanks, D.A. Crescent Ridge Dawn Redwoods Preserve (2005). http://www.dawnredwood.org
  • Jahren, A. H. & Sternberg, L. S. L. (2003). Humidity estimate for the middle Eocene Arctic rain forest. Geology May 2003 pdf file
  • LePage, Ben A.; Williams, Christopher James; Yang, Hong, eds. (2005). The geobiology and ecology of Metasequoia. Volume 22 of Topics in geobiology. Springer. ISBN 1-4020-2631-5.
  • "Metasequoia Glyptostroboides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved September 25, 2006.
  • "Metasequoia stumps, Axel Heiberg Island" (PDF). (804 KB)
  • Williams C.J., LePage, B.A., Vann D.R., Tange, T., Ikeda, H., Ando, M., Kusakabe, T., Tsuzuki, T. and T. Sweda. (2003). Structure, allometry, and biomass of plantation Metasequoia glyptostroboides in Japan. Forest Ecology and Management, 180(103): 287-301.
  • Williams C.J., Johnson A.H., LePage, B.A., Vann D.R. and T. Sweda. 2003. Reconstruction of Tertiary Metasequoia Forests II. Structure, Biomass and Productivity of Eocene Floodplain Forests in the Canadian Arctic. Paleobiology, 29(2): 271-292.
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