Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) Fossils - Montana

This is a Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood) fossil from the Muddy Creek Formation of Beaver Head County, Montana. The largest branchlet is 3.05" long. The Metasequoia genus was considered extinct until a living population was discovered in China in 1941. This makes the dawn redwood a classic example of a "living fossil". Today it only grows wild in wet lower slopes and montane river valleys of southeastern China, but it is a popular ornamental plant and arboretum specimen.

This specimen comes with an acrylic display stand.