Could you imagine standing before the \u6c34\u6749\u591c\u9b45 in Shanghai? Seven water fir trees stand tall by the river. They are especially beautiful under the night lights. These aren’t just any trees. They are Metasequoia glyptostroboides.
Let’s delve into the story of these dawn redwoods. The living species Metasequoia glyptostroboides is native to Lichuan county in Hubei province, China. Local villagers call these trees Shu\u01d0sh\u0101n. That translates to “water fir”. It’s a fitting name considering their riverside location.
These trees are fast growers. They can reach impressive heights. While the shortest of the redwoods, they grow to at least 165 feet tall.
The history of the Metasequoia is quite remarkable. The fossil of this genus was discovered by Shigeru Miki in 1939. In 1941, Miki published his description of the fossil plant. He gave it the name “Metasequoia”. Then in the winter of the same year, Chinese botanist Toh Gan discovered an unusual big tree in Modaoxi.
Because it was winter, the tree had already lost all its leaves. No specimens were collected by Mr. Gan. In 1942, botanist Zhan Wang visited Modaoxi and collected living specimens. Mr. Wang thought this tree belonged to a known species Glyptostrobus pensilis.
In 1945, Mr. Wang showed the specimens to botanist Wan Chun Cheng. Mr. Cheng determined that it was a new species. Mr. Cheng sent a specimen to botanist Hu Xiansu. Hu recognized the living specimen as the same genus as Miki’s fossil genus. After more study, Hu and Cheng published the new species Metasequoia glyptostroboides in May 1948.
The discovery of a “living fossil” instantly attracted attention. It was widely regarded as “the greatest discovery of botany in the 20th century”. Seeds were distributed to universities and arboreta worldwide for growth trials.
The \u6c34\u6749\u591c\u9b45 exemplifies the dawn redwood’s adaptability. They tolerate both wet and dry soils. Their deciduous nature means they don’t cast much shade in winter.
Notice how the bark and foliage resemble Sequoia trees. However, Metasequoia is deciduous. Older trees form wide buttresses on the lower trunk. The leaves are bright green turning reddish-brown in the fall.
The story of the \u6c34\u6749\u591c\u9b45 is one of survival. It’s also about rediscovery. These trees stand as living monuments to a botanical marvel. They connect us to a history spanning millions of years. As the night lights illuminate these water firs, remember their incredible journey.