D20: Dawn Redwood: Metasequoia glyptostroboides

This is another living fossil, the only member of its family still living. It was discovered in 1941 by a Chinese forester and found to be related to three fossils species in 1946. It is unlike other Redwoods and most other conifers in that its leaves are deciduous. Only 5500 trees exist in the wild and over-collection of seed means that it is not reproducing in its native sites but it is well protected. Planting in parks and concentrating on genetic diversity means that it should survive. The female cones are like those of a cedar.